A Nigerian man, Uche Raymond Okoye has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for defrauding a 65-year-old woman to the tune of $6 million (approximately N2.5 billion) in Guyana.
Okoye, also known as Uche Parker, is facing several other fraud charges, as more cases are still pending against him by the South American country’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
Nigeria Abroad reports that Okoye was guilty on 10 counts of obtaining money by false pretences from the 65-year-old female pensioner on November 3, and was sentenced by Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
At Friday’s sentencing hearing before Magistrate Anette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, he was sentenced to one-year imprisonment on each of the ten charges.
During a plea in mitigation, Okoye agreed to repay the victim some of the money he defrauded her.
Guyanese Police said the woman was duped through a romance scam as several romance package scams and pyramid schemes are reportedly being operated in Guyana by Nigerian nationals who are in Guyana illegally.
The police further said that victims are lured by persons they meet online who influence them to part with their cash. This organised crime is being investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit and citizens of Guyana are encouraged not to send money to persons they meet online.
