Five individuals involved in an elaborate, multi-million dollar transnational fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable populations have been sentenced to federal prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. The defendants received combined sentences totaling nearly 160 years for their roles in wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies.
The sentencings were held before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on June 16, 2025, in Sherman. The defendants and their sentences are:
- Damilola Kumapayi, 39, of Plano: 109 months (9 years, 1 month) for conspiring to commit wire fraud.
- Sandra Iribhogbe Popnen, 50, of Plano: 365 months (30 years, 5 months) for conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering.
- Edgal Iribhogbe, 51, of Allen: 480 months (40 years) for conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering (found guilty at trial).
- Chidindu Okeke, 32, of Houston: 480 months (40 years) for conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering (found guilty at trial).
- Chiagoziem Okeke, 32, of Houston: 480 months (40 years) for conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering (found guilty at trial).
“Transnational organized criminals targeting the hard-earned savings of elderly and vulnerable populations are simply despicable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations. The defendants’ lengthy sentences in this case reflect the seriousness of their crimes and the dedication of law enforcement officers and prosecutors to bring them to justice.”
According to information presented in court, beginning around January 2017, the defendants employed a variety of fraudulent schemes, including online romance scams, business email compromise, investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud, to illicitly obtain approximately $17 million. This money was stolen from at least 100 individual victims, companies, and government entities worldwide. The scheme specifically targeted elderly persons, often luring them through online dating sites. Once funds were obtained, the defendants laundered the money through a complex network of bank accounts, sending funds to accounts, co-conspirators, and businesses located in Africa and Asia.
“The defendants were part of a transnational organized crime syndicate that defrauded victims collectively out of millions of dollars. For some individuals, this was their life savings, and they were unable to financially recover,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office, added, “The collective sentences of nearly 160 years handed down to these defendants is a testament to the unwavering resolve of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and our law enforcement partners. Through relentless investigation and prosecution, they have brought justice to the victims, holding these predators accountable for exploiting trust and devastating lives.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime.
The extensive investigation involved a collaborative effort from numerous agencies, including the FBI’s Dallas Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service; Allen Police Department; Denton Police Department; Dallas County Sheriff’s Office; and Texas Department of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys in the Plano office.
