Nigerian Olamide Shanu Extradited To USA, Admits Role In $2.5m Sextortion, Romance Scam Network That Defrauded 150 Americans

A 35-year-old Nigerian national, Olamide Shanu, who was extradited from Nigeria to the United States, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering over his involvement in an international sextortion and romance scam network that defrauded approximately 150 American victims and generated more than $2.5 million in criminal proceeds.

Shanu entered his guilty plea on Monday, September 21, 2026, before the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, according to the United States Department of Justice.

The Nigerian national was extradited from Nigeria to the United States to face prosecution over his alleged involvement in the cyber-enabled fraud schemes.

The case was announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday, September 22, as part of the Criminal Division’s Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative, which targets international criminal networks involved in cyber-enabled financial crimes.

According to court documents, Shanu and his co-conspirators operated an international scheme involving financially motivated sextortion, romance fraud and money laundering, allegedly using deception, emotional manipulation and threats to obtain money from victims.

In the sextortion operation, the conspirators typically targeted male victims and persuaded them to send sexual images of themselves.

After obtaining the images, the suspects allegedly threatened to distribute the victims’ private photographs to their friends, family members and other contacts unless the victims made payments.

The operation reportedly targeted numerous victims across the United States, including at least one person in Idaho, where Shanu was prosecuted.

The alleged criminal network also operated romance scams, according to the court documents.

The conspirators allegedly created fake identities on social media platforms and used the identities to establish deceptive emotional relationships with victims.

The romance scam victims were typically older men and women, the U.S. authorities said.

The suspects allegedly gained the confidence of their victims, convinced them that they were engaged in genuine romantic relationships and discussed supposed future plans together.

After establishing those relationships, the conspirators allegedly persuaded the victims to send money by making false claims about urgent financial problems and other fabricated needs.

The proceeds from the sextortion and romance fraud operations were allegedly moved through peer-to-peer payment applications and several cryptocurrency wallet addresses before being transferred to co-conspirators in Nigeria.

U.S. authorities said Shanu personally made more than $2.5 million from the fraud schemes.

The prosecution has brought renewed attention to the international nature of cyber-enabled fraud operations, with U.S. authorities pursuing suspects and financial networks across national borders.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said the case exposed a sophisticated international scheme that exploited Americans through sextortion and romance fraud while laundering millions of dollars in criminal proceeds.

“This case exposes a sophisticated international scheme that exploited Americans through sextortion and romance fraud, laundering millions in criminal proceeds,” Duva said.

Duva said criminals involved in such schemes preyed on vulnerable victims, robbing them of their savings while exploiting deeply personal aspects of their lives.

“Criminals, like Olamide Shanu, who prey on vulnerable victims in this manner rob them of their savings and sense of decency,” he said.

He added that the Criminal Division’s Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative was established to tackle such threats by dismantling criminal networks and pursuing justice for victims.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho, Bart M. Davis, said the prosecution demonstrated the commitment of American authorities to pursuing cybercriminals regardless of where they operate.

“This prosecution demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they operate in the world,” Davis said.

“By securing the extradition of this defendant from Nigeria and bringing him to justice for sextortion and other cyber-enabled fraud schemes, we are sending a clear message that those who exploit victims and launder millions in illicit proceeds will face serious consequences.”

Davis said Shanu’s guilty plea, involving more than $2.5 million in laundered proceeds, resulted from the combined efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement agencies working to disrupt international criminal networks and protect victims.

“This guilty plea, involving more than $2.5 million in laundered proceeds, reflects the dedicated efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners to disrupt international criminal networks, protect victims, and ensure that cyber-enabled crime does not go unanswered,” he said.

Assistant Director Brent Daniels of the U.S. Secret Service’s Office of Field Operations described financially motivated sextortion as a serious crime that exploits victims through fear, shame and trust.

“Financially motivated sextortion is a heinous crime that preys on fear, shame, and trust to exploit victims in deeply personal ways,” Daniels said.

He said Shanu’s guilty plea represented an important step towards justice for the victims and demonstrated the Secret Service’s commitment to working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate international cyber-enabled fraud.

Shanu pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.