Five members of the Cape Town Zone of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” who were extradited from South Africa to the United States on wire fraud and money laundering charges, will appear in court on Monday (today).

In a statement by U.S. Attorney’s Office, District, all the five members were originally from Nigeria and were charged by superseding indictment with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, spanning from 2011 to 2021. 

The defendants were identified as Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede, Osariemen Clement, Collins Otughwor and Musa Mudashiru.

“The alleged members of Black Axe believed that operating behind electronic devices thousands of miles away would place them beyond the reach of American justice. They were wrong. 

“This extradition demonstrates that our Office, together with our law enforcement partners in the United States and abroad, will relentlessly pursue transnational criminal organizations that victimize Americans, no matter where they operate and hide,”  U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer stated.

Court filings showed that the defendants were all leaders of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” an organisation headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria that operates in various countries. 

“Black Axe is organised into regional chapters known as “zones,” and the defendants were all leaders within the Cape Town Zone in South Africa. Perry Osagiede founded the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe and worked as its zonal head. The Black Axe defendants and other members of Black Axe took part in, and openly discussed, fraud schemes amongst their membership,” the statement explained.

The filings further revealed from at least 2011 through 2021, the Black Axe defendants and other conspirators worked together from Cape Town to engage in widespread internet fraud involving romance scams and advance fee schemes, noting many of these fraudulent narratives involved claims that an individual was traveling to South Africa for work and needed money or other items of value following a series of unfortunate and unforeseen events, often involving a construction site or problems with a crane.

It added, “the conspirators used social media websites, online dating websites, and voice over internet protocol phone numbers to find and talk with victims in the United States, while using a number of aliases.”

According to the filings, the wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charges each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. 

While the money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greatest, the aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory term of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed on a defendant.

Special Agent in Charge Craig Marech of the U.S. Secret Service’s Newark Field Office stated, “This case reflects the result of a years-long effort by the U.S. Secret Service and our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who allegedly preyed on victims through sophisticated online fraud and money laundering schemes.”

He added, “This case demonstrates the power of cooperation and sends a clear message that the Secret Service and our partners will pursue those who target U.S. victims wherever they operate, anywhere in the world.”