Nigerian man arrested in the U.S. for scamming elderly woman out of nearly $9,000

A 47-year-old Nigerian man has been arrested for scamming an elderly woman out of nearly $9,000 in  Vermillion Parish, Louisiana, US, according to a news release from the Louisiana Attorney General's Office. Attorney General Landry said:

"Our office is on the front lines investigating, arresting, and educating to help stop the awful occurrence of seniors being targeted and preyed upon by scammers". "We want to help Louisiana’s people avoid falling victim to mortgage, contractor, charity and other types of frauds commonly perpetrated on senior citizens."

Chigozie Valentine Agu was arrested on charges of Felony Theft in excess of $5,000, Bank Fraud, Money Laundering, and Racketeering.

The Metro Washington Airport Authority at Dulles Airport arrested Agu following an investigation by General Landry’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) as he re-entered the United States. He was extradited to Louisiana and booked into the Vermillion Parish Correctional Center.

"It is an absolutely despicable crime to take advantage of our elderly family, friends, and neighbors," continued General Landry. "No matter the great lengths these shameless criminals take, my office will do all we can to get justice for their victims."

In May 2016, Agu contacted an elderly Vermillion Parish resident, telling her he was a Department of Homeland Security official and found a piece of luggage containing money he would return to her for a fee.

The LBI found proof that Agu received the money and that he attempted to conceal his crime through bank wire transfers and a third party. Overall, Agu scammed the elderly woman out of $8,890.