Darlington Akporugo, a 47-year-old Nigerian socialite, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy charges for his involvement in a romance scam that targeted victims across the United States, many of whom were elderly. This was revealed by US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Akporugo, arrested just a month before his planned wedding, confessed to being a key player in a long-running scheme that deceived victims from Chicago to Kentucky. He collaborated with accomplices to create fake online relationships, manipulating victims into transferring money to bank accounts under his control.
To further the scam, Akporugo and his co-conspirators used fraudulent identities to connect with individuals on social media. They built trust with victims before convincing them to invest in fictitious businesses or send money for made-up emergencies.
As part of his plea, Akporugo acknowledged primarily using platforms like Facebook to reach victims, directing them to send funds to his accounts or those of his associates, with the money often sent overseas.
Additionally, Akporugo admitted to convincing victims to open credit lines in his name and, in one instance, purchase a luxury car for his personal use.
The investigation, which spanned several years, uncovered over 25 victims, most of whom were retired or elderly. The total losses amounted to over $3 million.
“As we have unfortunately witnessed, victims of romance scams often lose significant amounts of money, sometimes their entire life savings,” said Ganjei. “These victims are often too embarrassed to come forward, but we urge them to report such crimes, as their stories can help prevent future exploitation.”
Akporugo is scheduled for sentencing on June 6 by U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a potential $250,000 fine. He remains in custody pending his sentencing.
