Stephen Odiboh has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a U.S. federal court announced on Thursday. The 53-year-old Nigerian national, based in Stone Mountain, Georgia, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Charles Siragusa to pay $196,500 in restitution to victims. His actions spanned from 2023 to March 2025 and involved multiple schemes targeting unsuspecting individuals through online platforms. The fraud resulted in total losses and attempted losses amounting to $356,500.
Odiboh’s criminal activities began in 2023 when he contacted a 77-year-old woman in New York’s Western District via Facebook. Under the fake identity of “Oliver Wilson,” he falsely claimed to be a widower living in Norway and a U.S. citizen. Over the course of about 18 months, he cultivated a romantic relationship with the elderly victim, using emotional manipulation to gain her trust. He repeatedly asked her to send gift cards, claiming they were needed to stay online and continue their conversations. She sent approximately 30 gift cards worth $500 each, totaling around $15,000.
In addition, between January and July 2024, “Wilson” convinced the same victim to mail eight checks totaling over $162,000 to various individuals and entities, including two checks directly to Odiboh. In December 2024, he told the woman he was being detained by customs authorities in Norway and needed to pay a $158,000 fine. He directed her to send two checks for that amount, but her bank flagged the transaction as fraudulent and stopped payment before the checks could be cashed.
Another scheme targeted a caterer in April 2024. A co-conspirator posing as “Alex Alberto” contacted the business owner, requesting catering services. The caterer asked for an $800 deposit, and “Alberto” sent a check for $2,800, instructing the caterer to cash it and transfer the remaining $2,000 to Odiboh via Zelle. The caterer recognized the scam and did not deposit the check.
In 2024, another co-conspirator, impersonating “William Rivera,” reached out to a person through an online dating site. After building trust, “Rivera” persuaded the victim to send $2,000 to Odiboh via CashApp, which was done on August 14, 2024. In March 2025, yet another co-conspirator, pretending to be “Alec Jonas,” connected with a woman on a dating platform. Once trust was established, “Jonas” claimed to be working in Bahrain and needed funds to ship goods to Texas. The woman wired $17,525 to a bank account controlled by him.
The U.S. Department of Justice highlighted these cases as part of a broader pattern of cybercrime involving romance scams and financial exploitation. Authorities emphasized the importance of public awareness and vigilance against such fraudulent schemes. This sentencing sends a clear message that perpetrators of online fraud will face serious legal consequences, regardless of their location. As digital interactions grow, so too does the need for robust safeguards and education to protect vulnerable populations from falling victim to such crimes.
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