Christopher Agbaje, a citizen of Nigeria, is slated to stand trial April 9 on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering
U.S Attorney Mac Schneider has announced that Nigerian citizen Christopher Agbaje has made his first appearance in the United States District Court for North Dakota, after being extradited from the United Kingdom.
According to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office, between November and December 2020, Agbaje, along with others, participated in a scheme to defraud a North Dakota law firm by posing as a client. The firm eventually received a package containing a Citibank check for $198,850 and deposited it in their bank account before sending a wire transfer for $198,336 to Agbaje’s business partner.North Dakota Crime Tracker: February 2024
The check was fraudulent, and once the transfer cleared, Agbaje directed his partner to initiate a false $180,000 international transfer in an attempt to conceal the location, ownership, and control of the money.
During Agbage’s initial appearance in Bismarck, his trial was scheduled for April 9 at 9:00 a.m. He is currently facing charges of Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, and Money Laundering.
The case is currently being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office.
Nigerian man faces trial after alleged defrauding of North Dakota Law Firm
BISMARCK — A Nigerian man has been extradited from the United Kingdom to appear in a Bismarck court on charges of trying to defraud a North Dakota law firm.
Christopher Agbaje, a citizen of Nigeria, is slated to stand trial beginning April 9 on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, according to a Monday, Feb. 12, release from the North Dakota United States Attorney’s Office. U.S. Magistrage Judge Clare Hochhalter ordered Agbaje be held in custody until the trial. Agbaje is in custody at the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center.
Between November and December 2020, Agbaje allegedly led a sophisticated scheme to defraud a North Dakota law firm in Mercer County out of $198,336.68, according to the release and court records.
