FBI Arrests Nigerian Influencer Sapphire Egemasi Over $3.9M Internet Fraud Involving Ghanaians

Fresh details have emerged surrounding the arrest of popular Nigerian influencer Sapphire Egemasi, who was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for her alleged involvement in a $3.9 million internet fraud and money laundering scheme.

The arrest, which took place on Thursday, June 5, 2025, in New York, has shocked social media users and sparked discussions across Nigeria and Ghana. Sapphire, who has built a significant following online for her luxury lifestyle content, is now at the center of a complex web of financial crimes stretching across several U.S. states.

Multiple Arrests and New Details Unfold

According to reports obtained from an FBI investigation document and confirmed by GhanaWeb, Sapphire was arrested alongside a Ghanaian national, Samuel Kwadwo Osei, also known as Tuga. The pair are suspected to be part of a broader fraud ring operating under the name Lasko Company LLC, which allegedly received large sums from fraudulent schemes.

The FBI documents reveal that three other individuals—Nana Kwabena Amuah, Shimea McDonald, and a man known as Garcia—were key figures behind the cyber fraud operation. At the top of this alleged criminal enterprise was Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian national described as the mastermind of the fraudulent activities.

The Fraud Operation and Fake Identities

According to the FBI, the fraudulent activities began as far back as 2021, when Amuah directed co-conspirator Shimea McDonald to open multiple bank accounts in the United States using fake identities. These fake identities were created using stolen information from real individuals, and in many cases, fake identity documents were fabricated to support the creation of shell companies and fraudulent accounts.

“In 2021, Amuah was directing McDonald to open bank accounts for receiving money from a variety of fraud victims,” the FBI report stated. “Amuah helped facilitate McDonald’s acquisition of fake identity documentation, based on fake identity information she obtained from real people.”

McDonald allegedly used the fake documents to open accounts with Truist Bank and created shell companies that acted as fronts to receive fraudulent wire transfers.

Once the money was received, Amuah would instruct McDonald to withdraw, wire, or deliver the stolen funds to other parties involved in the scheme.

Garcia’s Role in the Money Laundering Network

Between February 2022 and February 2023, another suspect, Garcia, collaborated with both Amuah and McDonald to procure fake documents and open more fraudulent accounts using shell companies. The goal was to receive money obtained from online scams, including impersonation and spoofing attacks.

“Garcia worked with his co-operators… to commit money laundering. He also worked for Amuah to procure fake identity documents and receive funds that Amuah directed to his accounts,” the report said.

Once the funds were in, Garcia would either wire the money or hand it over to the next link in the fraud chain.

Arrests, Guilty Pleas, and Sentencing

As investigations progressed, the FBI arrested and prosecuted the core suspects:

• Nana Kwabena Amuah pleaded guilty in 2021 and was sentenced in 2023 to 86 months in prison, with a restitution order of $4 million.

• Shimea McDonald received 80 months in prison, also with a $4 million restitution.

• Garcia was sentenced to 72 months, with a restitution amount of $4.6 million.

Following these arrests, the FBI uncovered new names in the fraud network—Samuel Kwadwo Osei and Sapphire Egemasi.

Sapphire’s Involvement and Role in the Scam

Sapphire Egemasi’s name emerged during follow-up investigations. She is alleged to have worked closely with Samuel Kwadwo Osei in operating a fake business front known as Lasko Company LLC, through which they received $330,000 and $960,000 in fraudulent wire transfers in August 2022.

The FBI reports that Sapphire played a crucial role in the digital infrastructure of the fraud ring. Her task was to register domain names that spoofed or mimicked legitimate company websites, a common tactic in Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams.

“To impersonate the vendor, members of the conspiracy including Sapphire registered domains that could be used to spoof or mimic domains belonging to real vendors or targeted entities,” the FBI stated.

More Ghanaians Named in FBI Investigation

The arrest of Sapphire and Samuel also led to the discovery of two additional Ghanaian suspects: Derrick Nii Ashitey and Fred Brobbey Awuah, also known as Kaki.

The FBI disclosed that since 2021, Awuah had been an active participant in the fraud ring, collaborating with McDonald, Osei, and others to open fraudulent bank accounts and transfer stolen funds, using messaging platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp to coordinate.

This high-profile case continues to evolve as U.S. law enforcement authorities widen their net. The arrest of Sapphire Egemasi, once celebrated online, highlights the growing scrutiny and enforcement of cybercrime and fraud schemes involving African nationals abroad.

Authorities urge the public to be cautious of online fraud schemes and remind individuals that digital crimes now carry severe international penalties.