Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - A 49-year-old Nigerian man, Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ugwu, has pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business involving more than $5 million in illegally obtained funds in the United States.
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant made the announcement in a
statement on Monday, April 6, 2026.
According to court documents, between December 2020 and
August 2023, Ugwu, of Bakersfield, owned, operated, and served as chief
executive officer of Franklin Finance Inc.
Through this business, Ugwu opened and controlled 20 bank
accounts across nine banks and financial institutions where he received
approximately $5 million from more than 100 individuals in the United
States.
He then transferred the funds to individuals in China,
Nigeria, and elsewhere.
At no point did the company have the required licenses to
operate a money-transmitting business.
Several of the individuals who sent Ugwu funds were victims
of cybercrimes and fraud.
Ugwu received and transferred approximately $580,000 in
fraud proceeds from these victims.
Ugwu was able to operate his unlicensed business by making
various misrepresentations to individuals, banks, and other financial
institutions to conceal his fraudulent activity.
Several of the individuals in the United States who sent
funds to Ugwu were victims of fraud and cybercrimes.
The IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security
Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the
case.
Ugwu is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge
Jennifer L. Thurston on July 27, 2026.
Ugwu faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.
The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the
discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors
and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of
variables.
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