$405,000 Romance Scam: Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty in US Court

Daniel Chima Inweregbu, a 40-year-old Nigerian, has pleaded guilty in the United States to charges related to a romance scam that defrauded several American women of over $405,000.

He admitted to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and money laundering.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Inweregbu entered his plea before Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown on August 21, 2025.

Court documents show that between July 2017 and December 2018, Inweregbu and his accomplices used a fake online persona, “Larry Pham,” to deceive victims.

They lured U.S. citizens on various dating sites and social media platforms before defrauding them.

The statement explained that the group “devised and operated a romance scam whereby they sought to obtain money and property from multiple American women, including four victims, by means of false and fraudulent representations and promises.”

Once they gained the trust of their targets, the conspirators convinced them to transfer funds into domestic bank accounts they controlled.

Authorities said the proceeds were later laundered through intermediaries to disguise their origin and ownership.

“Inweregbu’s scheme resulted in actual and intended losses of over $405,000 to the victims.

“Thereafter, Inweregbu and his co-conspirators laundered the funds, by conducting financial transactions using the proceeds of their wire and mail fraud scheme, designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds, by directing the victims’ funds through intermediaries,” the statement said.

For the fraud count, Inweregbu faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

On the money laundering count, he risks another 20 years, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000.

He also faces mandatory assessment fees.

Persecondnews reports that the court has scheduled sentencing for December 4, 2025.

Simpson commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for leading the probe and acknowledged support from the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State.