Jersey City Man Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud In West Virginia Property Scam
Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 2:00 P.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
MARTINSBURG, W.VA.- On Monday, December 16, 2024, Chukwuemeka Okorocha, 34, of Jersey City, New Jersey, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble to one count of Wire Fraud in connection with a Hampshire County, West Virginia property theft scheme.
According To The U.S. Attorney’s Office
According to U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, and charging documents filed with the court, Okorocha, also known as “Mecca,” was involved in a scheme involving a real estate property transaction in Hampshire County, West Virginia.
Okorocha coordinated with a third party to impersonate a realtor to send an email to the closing agent with a payoff statement directing payment to an account under Okorocha’s control. Based on the fraudulent email, the closing agent transferred $332,904.37 to the account that Okorocha controlled.
Before the fraud could be detected, Okorocha and another individual spent $29,440.58 of the money. As part of his plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Okorocha agreed to pay $29,440.58 in restitution.
During Monday’s plea hearing, Judge Trumble accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for a time and a date to be determined by the U.S. District Court. When sentenced, Okorocha faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
