Obinwanne Okeke pleads guilty to $11 million fraud

The Nigerian owner of Invictus Group, Obinwanne Okeke has pleaded guilty to the $11 million fraud case levelled against him in America. 

Okeke’s 2019 arrest caused quite a stir on social media as he was a highly regarded businessman who had also been featured in Forbes Africa. He is also known as Invictus Obi.

Okeke was arrested in 2019 on his way out of American and to Nigeria. He initially pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and was remanded by several judges after which he spent months in jail.

Okeke and other conspirators have been accused of targeting American businesses for fraud. Unatrac, a subsidiary of heavy equipment giant, Caterpillar was one of the companies that were targeted in a business email compromise scheme that went on for many years.

According to the Department of Justice, Okeke is facing a maximum of 20 years in prison.

“Okeke pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Okeke faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on October 22. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

“A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.”

This is coming as another alleged fraudster, Ray Hushpuppi was allegedly picked up by the Interpol on similar charges.