A international scam artist was sentenced to eight years in prison for scamming millions from “crippled, old or poor” American pensioners.
Frank Onyeachonam, also known as “Fizzy”, financed his outlandish lifestyle full of luxury cars, champagne and designers clothes by convincing elderly victims they won a “life changing” lottery prize. In order to receive it, they must pay an “activation fee.” He would continue to ask for “modest sums” of money, that were wired back to the U.K. Authorities believe the scammer conned at least 400 victims, mainly from the U.S., from 2005-2012. He banked as much as $51 million in that period.
When police raided his luxury furnished apartment, notebooks containing the names, addresses, cash tallies and other personal details relating to 406 people were found. His crime was uncovered in a three year crime operation lead by the National Crime Agency with the help of the IRS in the U.S.
Onyeachonam was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud after a three week trial.
A jury of eight women and four men also found co-defendants Lawrencia Emenyonu, 38, and Bernard Armah, 51, both of Wood Green, north London, guilty of money laundering. All three denied the charges.
Emenyonu was jailed for 18 months while her partner Armah received an eight-month term.
Investigators believe Onyeachonam, a married father of two from Canning Town, London, was apart of a major scamming ring, originating from Nigeria. The ring hosts hundreds of perpetrators spanning across several countries.