Thelma Osatohanmwen
The U.S. Department of Justice has disclosed that Niselio Barros Garcia, a resident of Florida, is now facing money laundering charges related to his involvement in Nigerian romance scams and business email compromises.
It was gathered that, Garcia, a U.S. citizen, admitted to facilitating these scams by providing his bank account information to scammers.
He played a crucial role in converting the illicit funds into bitcoins and then transferring them to the perpetrators in Nigeria.
In return, Garcia retained a substantial commission for his participation in these fraudulent activities.
The Department of Justice revealed that Garcia used a cryptocurrency exchange to conceal and transfer the funds in Bitcoin to his co-conspirators in Nigeria.
His personal involvement in money laundering amounted to over $2.3 million in criminal proceeds, earning him hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees.
Garcia is allegedly facing serious legal consequences and could be sentenced to up to 20 years in jail.
His sentencing is scheduled for April 23, where a federal district Judge in the Southern District of Florida will make the decision.
Brian Boynton, the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, highlighted the increasing sophistication of fraudsters in executing these types of scams.
He urged the public to remain vigilant in the digital age, emphasizing the Justice Department’s commitment to aggressively pursuing individuals and groups involved in such illicit activities.