Court sentences internet fraudster for defrauding 34 victims across 13 countries

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) has secured the conviction and sentencing of one Eze Harrison Arinze before Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for defrauding 34 victims across 13 countries of $592,000 (Five Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand United States Dollars).

EFCC made this known in a statement on its X handle on Friday, December 8.

the statement reads: “The amended count charge reads: That you, EZE HARRISON ARINZE alias Charlotte Brain, sometime between April 2021 and December 2022 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did fraudulently impersonate one Charlotte Brain a purported owner of digitrades.netxxxxxxxxxxxxxx investment platforms on telegram and in that assumed character obtained cryptocurrency worth $592,000.00 (Five Hundred and Ninety-Two US Dollars) from Coinbase exchange users, through your bitcoin address -333AgHuT8wAhowRBQZ2ASxxxxxxxx domiciled with Coinbase, a Virtual Asset Service Provider and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act.

“The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

“In view of the plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged.

“Justice Omotosho convicted and sentenced Arinze to three years imprisonment, with an option of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira only) fine. He added that 11.07 Bitcoins valued at $461,280.70 as at December 4, 2023 be restituted to the 34 victims from 13 countries as identified.”