FBI Arrests Nigerian National Extradited to U.S. Over Romance Scam Scheme

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a Nigerian national, Samuel Ugberaese, following his successful extradition from Nigeria to the United States. Ugberaese is facing severe federal charges in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC) for his alleged leadership role in a multi-million dollar cross-border romance fraud ring that heavily targeted elderly American citizens.

According to the unsealed federal indictment, Ugberaese—known online by the alias "Putsammy"—conspired with several individuals to orchestrate complex internet romance scams. The syndicate created fraudulent profiles on various dating websites and social media platforms to build trust and exploit vulnerable, older victims. Through false emotional promises, fabricated personal emergencies, and deceptive stories, the scammers manipulated victims into transferring substantial sums of money.

The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Ugberaese worked closely with a co-defendant, Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule (a naturalized U.S. citizen based in Georgia), to launder the illicit proceeds. Kolaogunbule allegedly established a vast network of domestic "drop accounts"—many registered under fake export businesses—to move, layer, and obscure the source and ownership of the stolen funds before routing them back to the criminal network.

Ugberaese has been officially charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Following his extradition, United States Magistrate Judge Brian S. Myers ordered that he remain detained pending trial. If found guilty on both counts, the defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of 40 years in a federal prison.

The high-profile arrest was made possible through a coordinated international effort involving the DOJ's Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Law Enforcement Attaché Office in Abuja, the Nigeria Police Force (INTERPOL), Nigeria's Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Office, and the South African Police Service.

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