Harry Cole, a Nigerian based in
Canada, has been extradited to the United States for his alleged involvement in
a $300 million sweepstakes fraudulent scheme.
A sweepstake is a race, gambling
game or lottery in which the winnings comprise all the money that has been
staked.
The US department of justice said
Cole, also known as Akintomide Bolu, was extradited to the Western District of
Texas where the alleged fraud was committed with other accomplices between 2012
and 2016.
Other Nigerians listed in the
scheme were Akintola Akinmadeyemi, Emmanuel Olawale Ajayi (aka Wale, aka
Walata), Tony Dada Akinbobola (aka Lawrence D Awoniyi, aka Boss Tony, aka
Toyin) and Bolaji Akinwunmi Oyewole (aka BJ, aka Beejay).
The DoJ said Cole has been
charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of
conspiracy to commit money laundering adding that each count upon conviction
calls for up to 20 years in federal prison.
“Harry Cole (aka Akintomide
Ayoola Bolu, aka John King, aka Big Bro, aka Egbon), a 50-year-old Nigerian
citizen and a resident of Canada, was extradited today from Canada to face
federal charges for his alleged role in a fraudulent “sweepstakes” scheme with
an intended loss in excess of $300 million,” it said in a statement.
“The defendants carried out their
sweepstakes scheme from 2012 to 2016. Cole allegedly purchased lists from Lundy
of elderly potential victims and their addresses. He and other conspirators
based in the Toronto, Ontario Canada metropolitan area sent packages containing
fraudulent sweepstakes information to conspirators residing in the US.
“The packages contained thousands
of mailers, which US-based conspirators sent to victims notifying them that
they had won sweepstakes. Each mailer included a fraudulent check issued in the
name of the victim, usually in the amount of $8,000, and a pre-addressed
envelope.
“Victims were instructed to
deposit the check into their bank account, immediately withdraw between $5,000
and $7,000 dollars in cash or money orders and send the money to a “sweepstakes
representative” to facilitate the victim collecting his or her prize.
“By the time the victim was
notified by the bank that the deposited check was fraudulent, the cash or money
order had been sent by the victim and received by the defendants or
conspirators. The intended loss from this scheme was over $300 million, with an
actual loss of more than $900,000.”
Commenting on the development,
John Bash, US attorney, said the scheme targeted the elderly people in the
country.
“If you defraud Americans, it
doesn’t matter where you are in the world. The United States government will
work tirelessly to find you, extradite you, and hold you accountable for your
crimes,” Bash said.
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