By Okonkwo Sandra
In a landmark judgment, a Lagos State Special Offences Court has convicted and sentenced American businessman, Marco Antonio Ramirez, to 74 years imprisonment for defrauding victims of $1.2 million through an EB-5 visa scam and an additional $368,698.24 in fraud.
Justice Mojisola Dada found Ramirez guilty on two consolidated charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sentenced him to multiple terms of imprisonment, ranging from 8 to 10 years, to be served consecutively.
The court ruled that Ramirez and his companies had obtained money from victims by promising them access to the USA Investor Programme, which would qualify them for a Green Card and permanent residency, but instead converted the funds for his personal use.
The judgment highlights the commitment of Nigerian authorities to combating international fraud and brings justice to the victims of Ramirez’s scam.
