A Nigerian citizen, Daniel Chima Inweregbu, 40, has pleaded guilty in the United States to orchestrating an online romance scam that swindled several American women out of more than $405,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana confirmed the plea in a statement, noting that Inweregbu admitted to charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson said the plea was entered on August 21, 2025, before Chief Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown.
Court records show that between July 2017 and December 2018, Inweregbu and unnamed accomplices created a fictitious online persona, “Larry Pham,” to approach unsuspecting women through dating platforms and social media.
According to prosecutors, the group built trust through false promises of love and long-term relationships before persuading their victims to transfer money into U.S. bank accounts under their control.
The funds were later funneled through intermediaries in a deliberate effort to obscure their origin and ownership, a classic laundering tactic used to keep authorities off their trail.
Authorities said at least four women suffered direct financial losses, while others were targeted with similar false representations.
The actual and intended losses from the scheme exceeded $405,000.
“Inweregbu and his co-conspirators laundered the stolen money by conducting financial transactions designed to conceal the nature, source, and control of the proceeds,” the authorities said.
For the fraud charge, Inweregbu could receive up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
On the money laundering charge, he faces another potential 20 years, with three additional years of supervised release and fines reaching $500,000.
He also faces mandatory federal assessment fees. Sentencing is set for December 4, 2025.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with support from the U.S. Department of State and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended the agencies involved for exposing the scheme and bringing Inweregbu to justice.
Nigerian man admits role in $405,000 U.S. online romance scam
