Nigerian programmer and self-acclaimed ‘tech queen’, Sapphire Egemasi, is facing up to 20 years in prison following her arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over her alleged involvement in a sophisticated multimillion-dollar internet fraud and money laundering scheme targeting U.S. government agencies.
Egemasi, who maintained a polished image online as a tech entrepreneur, was arrested in the Bronx, New York, around April 10, 2025, alongside several co-conspirators, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei, believed to be the leader of the syndicate.
According to reports, a U.S. federal grand jury had indicted Egemasi and others in 2024 on multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering, relating to fraudulent activities committed between September 2021 and February 2023.
Authorities allege that Egemasi’s role in the cybercrime ring involved designing and registering spoof websites that closely resembled official U.S. government portals, used to steal login credentials from unsuspecting victims. Investigators said she also helped launder stolen funds through a network of wire transfers to accounts controlled by the syndicate.
One of the key incidents cited involved the redirection of $965,000 stolen from the city of Kentucky into a PNC Bank account in August 2022. An additional $330,000 was allegedly funneled into a Bank of America account around the same time.
Egemasi, who had been residing in Cambridge, United Kingdom, reportedly met members of the syndicate during her time in Ghana. She later assumed the role of the group's primary tech strategist.
To legitimize her wealth, she is said to have fabricated claims of internships at high-profile companies such as British Petroleum (BP), H&M, and Zara. On LinkedIn and other platforms, she built a large following by showcasing her supposed rise in tech, often posting photos from luxurious trips to destinations like Greece and Portugal—now believed to have been funded through illicit means.
Egemasi and her co-accused are currently in custody awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in federal prison, substantial financial penalties, and eventual deportation to their respective countries after serving their sentences.
