Nigerian Socialite Darlington Akporugo Faces 25 Years for Leading Multimillion-Dollar Romance Scam
Nigerian socialite Darlington Akporugo is facing up to 25 years in prison after confessing to leading a multimillion-dollar romance scam that targeted dozens of victims, mainly elderly individuals, across Houston and other parts of the United States.
The 47-year-old was set to marry his fiancée, Jasmin Sood, in early 2024 when U.S. law enforcement arrested him just hours before the ceremony.
His arrest followed an extensive investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into a Houston-based syndicate involved in romance fraud.
Akporugo, who is in the U.S. illegally, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and aiding and abetting wire fraud in the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He admitted to defrauding over 25 victims, many of whom were retirees or widows, out of millions of dollars.
“This individual and his co-conspirators preyed on the vulnerability of the elderly and recently widowed, robbing them of their hard-earned life savings,” said Chad Plantz, Special Agent in Charge at ICE Homeland Security Investigations. He praised the cooperation between domestic and international law enforcement in dismantling the fraud ring.
As part of his plea, Akporugo confessed that he and his accomplices created fake identities on social media platforms, primarily Facebook, to manipulate individuals into fraudulent investments or fabricated personal emergencies. Victims were then tricked into transferring money to accounts controlled by Akporugo and his associates, with the funds later funneled to overseas accounts.
Akporugo remains in custody ahead of his sentencing, scheduled for June 6. After completing his prison term, he is likely to be deported from the United States.