Nigerian programmer Sapphire Egemasi popularly called “Tech Queen” who was arrested earlier in April by the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI for fraud; is to face 20 years behind bars if convicted.
Egemasi was alleged to have defrauded U.S government agencies of millions of dollars.
She was arrested and taken into custody in Bronx New York City United States in April 2025 along with other suspects which included a Ghanaian nationale Samuel Kwadwo Osei who is believed to be the leader of the fraud ring.
Charges against the fraud ring emanated from a federal indictment for internet fraud and money laundering crimes that were said to have been committed between September 2021 and February 2023.
Court documents alleged that the tech queen’s role was to create fake U.S. government websites to steal login credentials which were used to divert public funds.
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Not just that, she was alleged to have transferred stolen money into accounts controlled by the syndicate.
FBI noted that the group rerouted 965,000 dollars and 330,000 dollars stolen from the City of Kentucky into accounts at PNC Bank and Bank of America in 2022.
The tech queen who is known for her flashy online presence often posted pictures of expensive trips to countries such as Greece and Portugal faking a life of success fueled by tech expertise.
Egemasi and her co-defendants are being held in Lexington, Kentucky, awaiting trial.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
