Phoenix-based Nigerian citizen Kingsley Ibhadore was sentenced to 17 months in the U.S. District Court for his multi-million-dollar role in online romance victims.
U.S. resident Ibhadore pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in May 2024 and was sentenced on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Federal investigators say Ibador played a key role in the program, which deceived nearly $3 million of victims between 2018 and 2019.
According to the Secret Service, Ibador uses multiple aliases and fake passports to open 24 bank accounts at institutions such as Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo and BBVA Compass.
Ibhadore used names like Barry Bhoye, Celestin Cheick, Simone Diakite and Celestin Emmanuel to store checks from scam victims, some as large as $100,000. He then withdrew his funds or transferred the money to accounts in Türkiye and Nigeria
“This is a major financial business,” said Scott Windish, acting agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service Secret Service in the preliminary investigation in 2023. Authorities believe Ibador is part of a wider criminal network.
Ibador was initially prosecuted in 2023 after FOX 10 investigated fraudulent activities.
His sentences mark a constant effort to combat international romantic scams and economic fraud.
