Bismarck, ND – On September 11, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Nigerian national Christopher Agbaje to 142 months in federal prison. Agbaje was also ordered to pay $188,935.74 in restitution to a law firm in North Dakota.
The sentence follows his conviction on charges of Money Laundering, Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud, and Aiding and Abetting Mail Fraud.
Agbaje was found guilty on these charges after a four-day trial in May 2024, though he was acquitted of Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud charges. His case began with his extradition from the United Kingdom to North Dakota in February 2024.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that between November and December 2020, Agbaje was involved in a complex fraud scheme targeting a North Dakota law firm. The scheme involved deceiving the firm by posing as a business owner engaged in a dispute with a company in Bismarck, North Dakota. The perpetrators fabricated a legal relationship with the firm and used fraudulent communications to manipulate them.
The law firm, believing the scheme to be legitimate, deposited a fake Citibank check for $198,850.00. Subsequently, at the direction of the supposed business owner, the firm transferred $198,336.68 to Agbaje’s business partner. Agbaje then instructed his partner to execute a fraudulent international wire transfer of $180,000.00, aimed at disguising the funds’ origin and ownership.
Upon learning of the ongoing investigation into the fraudulent transaction, Agbaje advised his partner to persist with their deceitful activities and claim ignorance.
U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider stated, “This significant sentence underscores that international fraudsters will be held accountable, no matter where they try to hide. Our commitment is to pursue justice for North Dakotans and ensure that fraud perpetrators face consequences in a federal courtroom.”
FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. commented, “Today’s sentencing reflects our resolve to combat even the most intricate fraud schemes. The FBI, in collaboration with international partners, will continue to safeguard the financial security of Americans from those who seek to exploit it.”
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan J. O’Konek and Nick Baker prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a crucial role in Agbaje’s arrest and extradition.
