Five Nigerians extradited from South Africa to the United States over alleged wire fraud and money laundering offences could face a combined maximum sentence of up to 100 years in prison if convicted.
The United States Department of Justice disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the five defendants were extradited to the US on September 11, 2026.
The suspects, identified as 57-year-old Perry Osagiede, 42-year-old Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 40-year-old Osariemen Eric Clement, 42-year-old Collins Owhofasa Otughwor and 38-year-old Musa Mudashiru, are expected to appear before US District Judge Michael Shipp at the Trenton federal court.
The defendants were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with activities allegedly carried out between 2011 and 2021.
Three of them Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Clement also face individual wire fraud charges, while Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Otughwor were additionally charged with aggravated identity theft.
According to US Attorney Robert Frazer, the defendants were allegedly leaders of the Black Axe organisation and operated within its Cape Town Zone in South Africa.
Frazer alleged that the group used social media, online dating platforms and internet-based phone numbers to target victims in the United States, particularly through romance scams and advance-fee schemes.
He said victims were allegedly deceived into believing they were in romantic relationships with the suspects and were subsequently persuaded to send money and other valuables to South Africa.
The US attorney further alleged that the suspects laundered proceeds from romance scams, business email compromise schemes and advance-fee fraud through aliases and business entities intended to conceal the source of the funds.
The DOJ said each wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while the money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum of 20 years.
It added that aggravated identity theft attracts a mandatory two-year prison sentence, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
The five defendants were arrested in South Africa in 2021 following a request from US authorities and were extradited to the United States on September 11, 2026.
The Department of Justice, however, stressed that the charges remain allegations and that all five defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
