Ugandan Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Federal Prison for Money Laundering Charge

DAVENPORT, IA – A Ugandan man was sentenced on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, to 121 months in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.

According to public court documents, Kingsley Ogbeide, 50, also known as “James Oreye,” “Emmanual Richson,” and “King,” was involved in a business email compromise (BEC) scam which defrauded a business within the Southern District of Iowa. Ogbeide worked with co-conspirators and co-defendants to trick employees of legitimate businesses to change their bank information via email. Large sums of money were subsequently wired to illegitimate bank accounts controlled by fraudsters. Ogbeide worked as a top-level conspirator arranging and communicating on which fraudulent bank accounts would receive illegally obtained funds and managed how the funds would be distributed to other members of the conspiracy. Ogbeide admitted to helping to manage fraudulent activity totaling between approximately $3.5 million and $9.5 million.

Following his prison sentence, Ogbeide was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Ogbeide was ordered to pay about $1.5 million in restitution to 16 victims.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.