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US court sentences Invictus to 10 years in prison for $11m fraud

Obinwanne Okeke, better known as Invictus Obi, has received a 10-year jail term for fraud in a United States court on Monday.
Invictus Obi
Obinwanne Okeke

Obinwanne Okeke, better known as Invictus Obi, has received a 10-year jail term for fraud in a United States court on Monday.

Rebecca Smith, Chief District Judge of United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, delivered the judgment.

Okeke was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at Dulles International Airport while leaving the US over $11 million Internet fraud in 2019.

Smith said the 33-year-old was jailed for his involvement in a computer-based intrusion fraud scheme that resulted in known losses of $11 million to his victims.

“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims,” Raj Parekh, acting US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said.

“Today’s sentence further demonstrates EDVA’s and FBI’s worldwide reach in vigorously pursuing justice on behalf of American victims and others and holding international cyber-criminals accountable, no matter where they commit their crimes.”

The defendant who had investments in oil and gas, agriculture, private equity, alternative energy, telecom and real estate had operated his holdings under the ‘Invictus Group’ and had presence in three countries including Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia.

As part of the scheme, Okeke and others engaged in an email compromise scheme targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, the export sales office for Caterpillar heavy industrial and farm equipment.

In April 2018, a Unatrac executive fell prey to a phishing email that allowed conspirators to capture login credentials. The conspirators sent fraudulent wire transfer requests and attached fake invoices.

Okeke participated in the effort to victimise Unatrac through fraudulent wire transfers totalling nearly $11 million, funds which were transferred overseas.

The Nigerian was once listed by Forbes as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans.