Nigerian programmer arrested by FBI for multimillion-dollar fraud
Nigerian tech professional Sapphire Egemasi might face a sentence of more than 20 years in prison after her arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation linked to an extensive fraud operation that affected several U.S. government agencies.
Egemasi, who is a programmer recognized on the software platform Devpost, was detained around April 10, 2025, in Bronx, New York, alongside other suspects, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei, believed to be the leader of the criminal network.
According to a federal grand jury indictment issued in 2024, this group is alleged to have conducted a broad internet fraud and money laundering scheme, with activities reportedly taking place between September 2021 and February 2023.
Federal investigators assert that Egemasi and her accomplices misappropriated millions of dollars from government entities, including the city of Kentucky. Egemasi is thought to have had a significant role in the operation by creating deceptive websites that imitated official U.S. government sites to steal login details and redirect public funds.
Prior to her arrest, Egemasi was reportedly living in Cambridge, United Kingdom; however, law enforcement officials suspect that she had formerly lived in Ghana, where she allegedly formed connections with the other members of the group.
Identified by authorities as the "tech lead" of the syndicate, Egemasi is accused of leading the development of fake websites and managing the transfer of stolen funds into accounts controlled by the group.
One recovered text message from August 2022 reveals how the group redirected \$965,000 stolen from Kentucky into a PNC Bank account. In another incident during the same timeframe, \$330,000 was channeled into a Bank of America account.
To obscure the origins of her earnings, prosecutors claim Egemasi falsely represented herself on her professional profiles as having held various positions—mostly internships—at well-known multinational companies such as British Petroleum, H&M, and Zara.
She cultivated a polished image online under the alias "tech queen," frequently sharing images of lavish vacations to places like Greece and Portugal on LinkedIn and other platforms. Authorities allege that these trips were financed through the profits of fraudulent activities.
Egemasi and her co-defendants are currently in federal custody and awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky. If found guilty, each could face a maximum of 20 years in prison, substantial financial penalties, and possible deportation to their home countries following the completion of their sentences.
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