Former Air Force Members Sentenced for $2 Million Cyber Fraud

• •Odimegwu and Mogaji stole over $2.4 million through phishing and BEC tactics.
• •Both defendants were sentenced to significant prison terms and ordered to pay restitution.
• •The case underscores the persistent threat of business email compromise scams.

Chijioke Timothy Odimegwu and Harafat Mogaji, both former members of the U.S. Air Force, were sentenced to a combined 189 months in federal prison for their involvement in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme. The two men executed phishing campaigns to steal employee email credentials, which they then used to redirect payments to bank accounts controlled by their co-conspirators. Their fraudulent activities resulted in the diversion of over $2.4 million from multiple victims, including a $1.68 million wire transfer from Iowa and a $720,000 transfer from Ohio. Both men were sentenced on September 25, 2026, with Odimegwu receiving 111 months and Mogaji 78 months in prison. They were also ordered to pay substantial restitution amounts. The case highlights the ongoing threat posed by BEC scams, which continue to inflict significant financial losses on businesses.