EFCC SECURES CONVICTION OF MAN WHO DEFRAUDED U.S. NGO OF $71,795 THROUGH CRYPTO SCAM
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of one Dennis Tamarakuro, also known as Keisha Reynolds, for defrauding a United States-based non-governmental organisation of $71,795.41 through a cryptocurrency scam.
Tamarakuro was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a single-count charge of cybercrime. He was accused of impersonating a U.S. female private investor under the alias Keisha Reynolds in December 2024 to obtain the funds through Bybit, a cryptocurrency exchange platform.
Investigations, aided by intelligence from the Jackson Township Police Department in the U.S., revealed that Tamarakuro laundered the illicit proceeds via Bybit and Busha. EFCC presented evidence showing he received 0.27 Bitcoin twice from an accomplice, Libson Junior, and later withdrew $18,000. The Commission recovered over $42,000 in cryptocurrency, while Bybit and Busha blocked additional sums of $22,157.40 and $20,121.41, respectively.
Justice Nwite sentenced him to one year in prison with an option of a N1 million fine payable to the Federal Government. The court also ordered the forfeited funds to be returned to the victim and directed Tamarakuro to swear an affidavit of good conduct.
Defence counsel, Laye Aeemokoya, pleaded for leniency, citing the convict’s role as a first-time offender and caregiver to his aged mother. However, the judge upheld the sentence.
The conviction comes just a day after EFCC arrested Gavice Logistics Limited CEO, Ahamba Tochukwu, over an alleged N2 billion Ponzi scheme. EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has repeatedly warned against the rising wave of crypto-related scams in Nigeria and across Africa.
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