American Businessman Jailed 74 Years for $1.2m Visa Scam in Lagos

American Businessman Jailed 74 Years for $1.2m Visa Scam in Lagos

An American businessman, Marco Antonio Ramirez, has been sentenced to 74 years imprisonment by a Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja for defrauding unsuspecting victims of $1.2 million through a fraudulent EB-5 visa scheme, as well as an additional $368,698.24 in related fraud.

Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, September 10, Justice Mojisola Dada found Ramirez guilty on two separate consolidated charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court ruled that the prosecution had established its case beyond all reasonable doubt.

Ramirez was handed multiple sentences for his crimes. On the first set of charges, he was sentenced to eight years each on counts one to six, and 10 years each on counts seven and eight. On the second charge, the businessman received 10 years each for counts one to 12 for obtaining money under false pretence, and another 10 years each for counts 13 to 16 for stealing.

The EFCC had accused Ramirez, along with his companies, USA Now LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, of duping their victims by promising them access to the United States Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) Investor Programme. This program was supposed to guarantee them Green Cards and permanent residency in the United States. However, Ramirez failed to honour these promises, converting the money he collected for personal use instead.

According to the EFCC, the fraudulent activities were carried out between February 5 and April 18, 2013, in Lagos.

Justice Dada, in her ruling, declared that "The convict dishonestly converted the money meant for investments to his personal use," underscoring the gravity of the offence.