A 45-year-old Nigerian national, Okeoghene Patrick Udugba, has been indicted by a United States federal grand jury over allegations that he participated in a romance scam and business email compromise scheme that defrauded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of more than $300,000.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the indictment in a statement issued by the Department of Justice on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Udugba, who resides in Frisco, Texas, faces federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, as well as money laundering.
According to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Udugba and other members of the conspiracy operated overlapping romance scam and business email fraud schemes targeting individuals and government funds.
Prosecutors alleged that the suspects used social media platforms and dating websites to establish fake romantic relationships with victims across several U.S. states.
The victims were allegedly manipulated into acting as money mules by receiving and cashing fraudulent payments obtained through the scheme.
The indictment stated that members of the conspiracy sent emails from spoofed Nigerian addresses while falsely presenting themselves as representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The fraudulent emails allegedly instructed that FWS grant funds should be used to settle fabricated invoices, which falsely claimed that the money recipients were contractors or consultants who had completed eligible projects for the agency.
As a result of the fraudulent communications and invoices, the FWS grant administrator reportedly approved payments exceeding $300,000.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Interior Office of Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution is being carried out under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established through Executive Order 14159, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion.
The HSTF is described as a multi-agency government partnership focused on tackling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organisations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating within and outside the United States.
If convicted, Udugba faces a maximum federal penalty of up to 30 years imprisonment, a period of supervised release after incarceration, and possible financial penalties.
The court will determine any sentence after considering federal sentencing laws and guidelines if a conviction is secured.
