Darlington Akporugo Pleads Guilty to $3M Romance Scam Targeting Elderly Victims Across the U.S.

A 47-year-old Nigerian man, Darlington Akporugo, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy in connection to a romance scheme that targeted victims across the United States, many of whom were elderly, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced.

Akporugo, who was arrested a month before his wedding, admitted to playing a key role in a in a long-running scheme that defrauded victims from Chicago to Kentucky.

Alongside his with accomplices, he exploited online relationships, convincing victims to send money to bank accounts under his control.

To carry out the scam, Akporugo and his co-conspirators used fake identities to connect with victims on social media, gaining their trust before persuading them to invest in bogus businesses or offer financial assistance for fabricated emergencies.

As part of his plea, Akporugo admitted to approaching victims primarily through social media platforms like Facebook and directing them to transfer funds to either his accounts or those of his associates. The money was transferred overseas, in many cases.

In addition to soliciting cash and wire transfers, he admitted to coercing victims into establishing lines of credit in his name and in at least one instance, acquiring a luxury vehicle for his personal benefit.

The multi-year investigation uncovered more than 25 victims, most of whom were retired or elderly. The fraudulent operation resulted in losses exceeding $3 million.

“As we unfortunately have seen, victims of romance scams suffer tremendous financial loss, sometimes amounting to their entire life savings,” said Ganjei. “Those who fall prey to such fraudsters are often too embarrassed to come forward. However, we encourage victims to report these crimes, as their stories may help prevent future victimization.”

District Judge Charles Eskridge is set to sentence Akporugo on June 6. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a potential$250,000 fine.

He remains in custody as he awaits the hearing