Three Sentenced in 2023 Extortion Case Linked to Tragic Jonesborough Suicide

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GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Three individuals have been sentenced in connection with an extortion scheme that defrauded a Washington County, Tennessee resident of almost $87,000, a crime that tragically contributed to the victim’s death.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Chinagorom Onwumere, 36, Salma Abdalkareem, 29, both from New Jersey, and Stephen O. Anagor, 37, from Washington, have been collectively sentenced to 20 years behind bars. Additionally, they are mandated to pay $388,500 in restitution.

In June 2023, according to court documents, Anagor and Onwumere, who are both Nigerian nationals, joined forces. Anagor enlisted the help of Onwumere and his wife, Abdalkareem, to support a Nigerian relative in executing romance scams. These scams were aimed at elderly individuals in the United States.

The DOJ revealed that the fraudulent scheme involved the relative in Nigeria posing as well-known celebrities. The perpetrators would deceive primarily older adults online, convincing them they were in romantic relationships with these impersonated celebrities.

The DOJ reported that scammers would also impersonate high-ranking officials, including the former director of the FBI and the former US attorney general. Once a victim agreed to send money, the scammers operating from Nigeria would instruct them to provide funds to other members of the conspiracy within the United States, including Anagor, Abdalkareem, and Onwumere.

One of the victims was from Jonesborough. He believed he was speaking with a well-known celebrity, and they had begun a romantic relationship. Eventually, members of the conspiracy posed as law enforcement and told the victim that the “celebrity’s management had filed a complaint and that he was under investigation.”

Through a series of harassing emails, the scammers advised that he had to pay exorbitant fees and fines to make the investigation go away and seal it from the public. The victim reportedly sent $86,900 to Onwumere and Abdalkareem. These funds made up the victim’s entire life savings, according to the DOJ.

The scammers then claimed that the celebrity had been hospitalized due to stress from the “investigation” and that the victim was responsible for the medical bills.

In the final texts between the victim and the “celebrity,” the victim claimed he had no more money to provide and was going to end his life. On October 23, 2023, the victim committed suicide.

Abdalkareem was sentenced to 51 months. According to the DOJ, Abdalkareem pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering, and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a).

Onwumere was sentenced to 84 months. According to the DOJ, Onwumere pleaded
guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering, and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a).

Anagor was sentenced to 108 months. According to the DOJ, Anagor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death, and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft.

Onwumere and Anagor will be on supervised release for five years, while Abdalkareem will be on supervised release for three years following their sentences.