By Abiola Olawale
A scheduled Saturday wedding took a dramatic turn as a prospective couple, Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, were apprehended on charges of defrauding elderly Americans of over $3 million through online romance scams.
According to the official website of the United States Attorney’s Southern District of Texas, the wedding ceremony of the arrested couple was scheduled to take place today, May 25 in Houston, Texas.
In the statement posted on the website, Akporugo and Sood allegedly conspired for over seven years, targeting widowed victims on social media and dating platforms.
The statement revealed that the fraudulent activity transpired between 2015 and 2022. The duo were said to have gained the trust of their targets, ultimately persuading them to transfer substantial sums of money to their accounts.
Akporugo and Sood were indicted to have allegedly defrauded no fewer than 13 victims of $3,123,073. A notice of forfeiture has been issued for all unlawfully acquired proceeds resulting from the scam.
The statement reads in part: “A Nigerian man who resided in Fulshear is set to appear in court on allegations he conspired to defraud over a dozen elder Americans who thought they were in romantic online relationships and sent millions to a network of fraudsters, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
“Darlington Akporugo, 46, is scheduled for a detention hearing at 9 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison. Akporugo allegedly conspired with Jasmin Sood, 35, also of Fulshear, to commit wire and mail fraud.
“The indictment also charges Akporugo with aggravated identity theft and fraud in connection with an access device.
“The scheme allegedly resulted in at least 13 victims being defrauded of an approximate $3,123,073. The indictment includes notice of forfeiture for all illegally derived proceeds from the fraud scheme.”
Also, the indictment further revealed that if they are convicted, both face up to 30 years in prison.
“If convicted, both face up to 30 years imprisonment for each of the wire fraud counts and conspiracy. Akporugo faces an additional 10 years on fraud in connection with an access device and another mandatory two years if convicted of aggravated identity theft,” it added.
