67-Year‑Old “Tech King” Michael Neu Arrested in Louisiana Over Nigerian Scam Operation

Michael Neu, a 67‑year‑old Louisiana resident once lauded as a local “tech king” for his computer acumen, has been arrested in Slidell, Louisiana, accused of acting as a middleman in a large‑scale Nigerian cyber‑fraud operation. Authorities allege Neu funneled millions of dollars obtained through advance‑fee scams—commonly known as “Nigerian prince” or “Yahoo boys” scams—to co‑conspirators in Nigeria.

According to law enforcement sources, Neu faces a staggering 269 counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Over an 18‑month investigation, police say he was instrumental in hundreds of scam transactions—receiving funds from victims across the U.S. and wiring them overseas while keeping a cut for himself.

Local media reports that Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal warned the public about the perils of such schemes, stating, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. … Never give out personal information … or wire large amounts of money to someone you don’t know. 99.9 percent of the time, it’s a scam”. Neu was taken into custody in Louisiana’s St. Tammany Parish jail, with bail reportedly set at $30,000 .

The case has garnered renewed attention on social platforms, with posts trending across X (formerly Twitter), describing Neu disparagingly as a “middleman who receives and wire millions for Nigerian yahoo boys”. As the investigation continues, authorities are calling on victims to come forward and assisting recovery efforts—using legal channels like Western Union settlements—while urging the public to remain vigilant against evolving cyber‑scam tactics.

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