Tobechi Onwuhara of Dallas, Texas – the ringleader of a home equity line of credit fraud scheme – was sentenced to 72 months in prison on May 17, 2013 “for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and to commit money laundering, as well as for computer fraud” (FBI 2013).
The Crime
Onwuhara collected information, such as names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, from fee-based websites. He and his associates used other websites to obtain further personal information to assist with passports and security questions. This enabled the schemers to access credit reports, “which contained loan balances and other financial and personal information” (FBI 2013). With access to the victim’s account, they would arrange a transfer of funds.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"Two Cases of Cyber Crimes: Fugitive Identity Theft and Sextortion Scheme".
Onwuhara fled the country but was caught by the Australian National Police in Sydney. He was returned to the United States. Onwahara’s prison term of 72 months will be supplemented by an additional 5 years of supervised release.
Effects of the Crime
The scheme involved hundreds of victims nationwide. There were attempts to steal more than 38 million dollars. Most of the victims did not realize what had been done to them “until they received calls from their financial institutions about a late payment on a home equity line of credit loan, until they applied for another kind of loan and turned down, or until they checked their credit report” (O’Brien 2011).
Most victims were insured, and were reimbursed for their financial losses. But there are long-term consequences – credit rating damage and financial complications. This case shows that there is much to be done about identity theft. Society, as a whole, must be more aware of the necessity of reviewing, monitoring, and limiting the transmission pertinent information – especially those done on the computer and other devices.
Case Two: Sextortion Scheme
Christopher Patrick Gunn of Montgomery, Alabama was sentenced to 35 years for “producing child pornography through a massive online Sextortion scheme” (FBI 2013). Gunn used social media networks to contact young girls. He engaged in inappropriate conversations with these girls, and threatened them in order to attain more “compromising images, videos, and correspondence” (McCorquodale 2012).
The Crime
Gunn was active for more than two years, targeting girls in the United States and Ireland. He was caught when junior high school students in Alabama alerted the authorities about his explicit messages. Separate investigations were conducted in other states and the FBI searched Gunn’s home – attaining evidence proving guilt.
The Consequences
The victims were manipulated and deceived by Gunn, showing how vulnerable they were on these websites. It was discerned that there might be more victims who never came forward – revealing that these schemes could go unfounded. Furthermore, this case reveals the risks of online communication and the vulnerability of children on the web. Society must be more vigilant in combating these threats.
- Ringleader of Multi-Million-Dollar Home Equity Line of Credit Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 70
Months in Prison After Years as a Fugitive . (2013, December 20). FBI. Retrieved May 31, 2014, from http://www.fbi.gov/ - Cons Like ‘Bieber Ruse’ Targeted Minor Girls. (2013, February 5). FBI. Retrieved May 31,
2014, from http://www.fbi.gov - McCorquodale, A. (2012, May 17). Christopher P. Gunn Charged With Sextortation And
Cyberstalking After Allegedly Posing As Justin Bieber Online. The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 31, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/christopher-p-gunn-charge_n_1525508.html - O’Brien, L. (2011, January 25). The King of Home Equity Fraud. CNNMoney. Retrieved May
31, 2014, from http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/24/real_estate/onwuhara_home_equity_fraud_full.fortune/
