The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested Nigerian national Samuel Ugberaese, also known as “Putsammy,” following his extradition to the United States over alleged involvement in a cross-border romance scam and money laundering conspiracy.
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The United States Department of Justice announced the development on Tuesday, saying Ugberaese was extradited from Nigeria to face federal charges in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
According to the indictment, Ugberaese and his alleged co-conspirators used romance scam tactics to defraud victims in the United States and other countries. The suspects allegedly created false identities, built romantic relationships with victims through online platforms, and used fake stories and promises to persuade them to transfer money.
A federal grand jury had returned the indictment on January 22, 2021. Following his extradition, U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian Myers ordered that Ugberaese be detained pending trial.
The indictment also alleged that Ugberaese conspired with a co-defendant, Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, a naturalised American citizen, to move criminal proceeds through a network of bank accounts, including accounts registered to purported export companies.
Prosecutors said the financial transactions were designed to conceal and disguise the nature, source, ownership, location and control of the proceeds of the alleged fraud.
Ugberaese is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Authorities alleged that the scheme involved dating platforms, including Match.com and Chemistry.com, where victims were reportedly targeted by fraudsters posing as professionals working overseas.
The proceeds of the alleged scam were said to have been moved through complex banking channels as part of efforts to launder millions of dollars.
Ugberaese was said to have evaded U.S. law enforcement for several years before his arrest and extradition in May 2026.
The operation reportedly involved cooperation among the FBI, the South African Police Service, the Nigeria Police Force through INTERPOL, and the Nigerian Ministry of Justice.
The case is being prosecuted by the Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
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