Five Nigerians based in South Africa who were extradited to the United States over alleged wire fraud and money laundering offences could face a combined maximum sentence of 100 years in prison if convicted.
The defendants were extradited on September 11, 2026, following their arrest in Cape Town in 2021 at the request of US authorities.
They were expected to appear before US District Judge Michael Shipp at the federal court in Trenton, according to a statement issued by the United States Department of Justice on Monday.
The defendants were identified as Perry Osagiede, 57; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42; Osariemen Eric Clement, 40; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42; and Musa Mudashiru, 38.
The five men were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering over alleged activities said to have occurred between 2011 and 2021.
Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Clement also face individual wire fraud charges, while Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Otughwor were additionally charged with aggravated identity theft.
US Attorney Robert Frazer alleged that the defendants were leaders of Black Axe, which he described as an organisation headquartered in Benin City, Nigeria, with operations across several countries.
Frazer alleged that the organisation operated through regional chapters known as “zones”, adding that the defendants held leadership positions within its Cape Town Zone.
He further alleged that the group operated romance scams and advance-fee fraud schemes, using social media, dating platforms and internet-based telephone services to target victims in the US.
According to him, the suspects allegedly used false identities to establish relationships with victims before persuading them to send money and other valuables to South Africa.
Frazer also alleged that some victims were threatened with the release of private photographs when they resisted further payments, while funds obtained through the schemes were allegedly moved through US bank accounts and transferred to South Africa.
The US attorney further accused the defendants of laundering proceeds from business email compromise schemes, romance scams and advance-fee fraud through aliases and business entities allegedly created to disguise the source of the funds.
The Department of Justice said each wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, while the money laundering conspiracy charge also carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.
It added that the money laundering charge could attract a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.
According to the DOJ, aggravated identity theft attracts a mandatory two-year prison term, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
The department said the five defendants had been extradited to the US on September 11 after their arrest in South Africa in 2021.
However, it stressed that the charges contained in the superseding indictment remained allegations and that the defendants were presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.