Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty in $6 Million U.S. Cyber Fraud Scheme
James Junior Aliyu, a 30-year-old Nigerian national previously residing in South Africa, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a multimillion-dollar cybercrime scheme that targeted U.S. businesses and individuals.
Aliyu was extradited from South Africa and is the third and final defendant to plead guilty in the case. Two co-defendants, Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu—also Nigerian nationals living in South Africa—were previously extradited and charged. Eight additional individuals have also pleaded guilty in related cases in the District of Maryland.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Aliyu and his co-conspirators carried out a business email compromise (BEC) scheme between February and July 2017. The group gained unauthorized access to email accounts to send fraudulent messages from spoofed addresses, tricking victims into wiring money to accounts under their control.
Aliyu also admitted to laundering proceeds from the fraud. He and his associates moved funds through various means—including transfers, cashier’s checks, and third-party accounts—to conceal the origins and beneficiaries of the stolen money.
Federal prosecutors say the intended loss from Aliyu’s actions was more than $4.1 million, with actual losses exceeding $1.5 million. Aliyu personally controlled at least $1.19 million in stolen funds.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Aliyu must pay at least $1.19 million in forfeiture and a minimum of $2.38 million in restitution. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, November 24, 2025, at 10 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore and the Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force. Authorities in South Africa and Canada also assisted in the arrests and extraditions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy is prosecuting the case.
