A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Daniel Chima Inweregbu, has pleaded guilty in the United States to charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering, in connection with a romance scam that defrauded multiple American women of more than $405,000.

 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana disclosed the development in a statement on Thursday, noting that Inweregbu entered his guilty plea on August 21, 2025, before Chief U.S. District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown.

 

According to court documents, between July 2017 and December 2018, Inweregbu and his co-conspirators created a fake online identity named “Larry Pham” and used dating websites and social media platforms to establish romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims.

 

Once emotional trust was secured, the victims were manipulated into transferring money into bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters. The illicit funds were then laundered through intermediaries to disguise their origin and ownership.

 

Federal prosecutors said the fraudulent scheme resulted in actual and intended financial losses exceeding $405,000.

 

Inweregbu now faces:

• Up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for fraud charges

• An additional 20 years and up to $500,000 in fines for money laundering

• Mandatory supervised release and special assessment fees

 

Sentencing has been scheduled for December 4, 2025.

 

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for leading the investigation, with critical support from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State.

 

Romance scams remain a growing threat globally, especially targeting vulnerable individuals online. U.S. authorities have continued to warn the public to be cautious when engaging in financial transactions with individuals met solely via the internet.