He owned a hip hop record label and he lived the high life of luxury hotels, gambling, strippers and bling. But behind the glitz and the glamour Tobechi Enyinna Onwuhara was one of the FBI’s most wanted men, allegedly a fraudster who scammed at least $44 million through cyber crimes.
But the sophisticated con artist, who fled Florida in August 2008 amid an intense FBI investigation, has been caught in Sydney and sent back to the US to face a string of fraud charges.
Nigerian-born Tobechi Onwuhara, 33, was “provisionally arrested in response to a request from the United States Government” in December last year, according to a spokeswoman for the Australian Attorney-General’s department.
A spokeswoman for the AG’s department said Mr Onwuhara is to face prosecution in the US for fraud related offences, including identity fraud and computer fraud.
“On January 29, the Minister for Justice [Jason Clare] made a determination to surrender Mr Onwuhara to the US.
“As a matter of long standing practice, the Australian government does not comment on operational matters,” she said.
Fairfax Media understands Mr Onwuhara had been living it up in Sydney after disappearing in August 2008.
The FBI’s website now lists Mr Onwuhara as captured, but with scant detail of the arrest. They were offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
The source who tipped off Fairfax said Mr Onwuhara had been making regular trips to The Star casino as well as splashing cash at numerous popular nightclubs.
“He would bet at the Star under a different name, he was a regular, then one day he just disappeared and someone told us he his wanted by the FBI,” a source said.
A spokeswoman for Echo entertainment, owner of The Star, did not return calls and emails. The US Consulate in Sydney also did not return calls.
An Australian Federal Police spokesman confirmed the AFP arrested Mr Onwuhara.
According to the FBI’s most wanted list. Mr Onwuhara is wanted for his alleged involvement in an elaborate scheme that defrauded the financial industry out of tens of millions of dollars.
“Onwuhara is a key member of a group of Nigerians who allegedly have been conducting fraudulent banking activities from Florida and Texas, since 2005,” the FBI’s most wanted website states.
“It is alleged that the group has been using online internet databases to steal victims’ identities.
“Once acquired, they allegedly use the victims’ information to gain access to the victims’ ‘Home Equity Line of Credit’ accounts and wire transfer the money to accounts mainly located overseas, some in the United States.”
Some of Onwuhara’s alleged co-conspirators have been arrested, inside and outside of the United States, the FBI’s website states.
Onwuhara was charged federally with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest by the US District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, on August 1, 2008.
Posted: at 24-02-2013 08:44 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Rihannaaa at 24-02-2013 08:53 PM (11 years ago) (f)
I dont look like Rihanna... Rihanna looks like me!
Posted: at 24-02-2013 08:53 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Keffejude at 24-02-2013 08:57 PM (11 years ago) (m)
yahoo crimes no dey pay...niggaz its high time u take ur academics seriously n work towards an honest lifestyle, if u no dey politics then stealing becomes a crime so do d 1 u can
Posted: at 24-02-2013 08:57 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
BIG BOY! SHARP MAN! HEAVY MAN! BIG DUDE! THE DON! AT THE END OF IT ALL, WHAT'S THE POINT? WAS IT REALLY WORTH IT? I GUESS NOT. NOW, YOU WILL DO TIME IN JAIL. DESPERATION DESTROYS A MAN'S PROSPECTIVE.
Posted: at 24-02-2013 09:08 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
youngchoppa at 24-02-2013 09:31 PM (11 years ago) (m)
Quote from: DMG17 on 24-02-2013 09:08 PM
BIG BOY! SHARP MAN! HEAVY MAN! BIG DUDE! THE DON! AT THE END OF IT ALL, WHAT'S THE POINT? WAS IT REALLY WORTH IT? I GUESS NOT. NOW, YOU WILL DO TIME IN JAIL. DESPERATION DESTROYS A MAN'S PROSPECTIVE.
shut up! The guy as made history. What are u knwn for? Av u run a bio on him. Poor rat
Posted: at 24-02-2013 09:31 PM (11 years ago) | Newbie
mind your business leave matter for Mathias BIG BOY FOR REAL the money that the white men has been stealing from us all these while we will get one way or the other
Support me... If you don't understand me don't write about me
Posted: at 24-02-2013 09:52 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
THANK YOU FOR INSULTING ME. I EXPECTED MORE FROM YOU THAN CHEAP VULGARITIES. I SUGGEST YOU READ ANY MESSAGE YOU GET VERY CAREFULLY, ANALYZE AND LEARN FROM IT, AND GET THE IDEA BEFORE YOU COMMENT, OK? THANK YOU FOR CALLING ME A POOR RAT (YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEING), GOD BLESS YOU FOR THAT. I'D RATHER BE A POOR RAT THAN STEAL MONEY FROM INNOCENT PEOPLE AND END UP IN JAIL, AS WELL AS FACE THE WROTH OF GOD ALMIGHTY. BUT, MY BROTHER I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK IN LIFE, AND IN ALL YOU DO.
Posted: at 24-02-2013 10:33 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Rihannaaa
Ifemylove
Keffejude
DMG17
ezchusa
osamabinladin
udenzeu
youngchoppa
Oyinminijoor
paulohking
Senegal
colenzo
steveoneal
kennynaija
etibaba
zoe61
Swtezvikky
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