Nigerian national Nosa Edokpaigbe has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison in the United States, ordered to pay $1,408,897.16 in restitution, and a forfeiture judgment of $681,694 after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and agreeing to a stipulated judicial removal order.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced the sentencing in a Department of Justice statement on Thursday, December 4, 2025. After completing his prison term, Edokpaigbe will be deported to Nigeria.
According to the plea agreement, between approximately July 2020 and May 2021, Edokpaigbe submitted hundreds of fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications on behalf of fictitious businesses, using the personal information of real individuals.
To hide his involvement, he signed loan agreements under other names, fabricated documents for the fake entities, used a wireless hotspot to mask his online activity, and employed AI-generated images and photos of mannequins to bypass lenders’ identity verification procedures. The hotspot was seized from his residence at the time of his arrest in October 2023.
Edokpaigbe also filed one fraudulent EIDL in his own name and submitted hundreds of fraudulent tax returns using the personal information of others. The scheme resulted in $1,389,713 in EIDL and PPP funds being disbursed, mostly into bank accounts opened under false identities.
“While others were struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nosa Edokpaigbe saw the national emergency as an opportunity to steal nearly $1.4 million from American taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly. “His shameless exploitation of relief programs meant to aid those in need has earned him several years in federal prison and a one-way trip back to Nigeria.”
Marv Massey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Denver, added: “Edokpaigbe exploited programs designed to support businesses and workers during the pandemic for personal gain. His greed affects every American taxpayer, and the FBI will continue to pursue those who attempt to defraud the federal government.”
The sentencing was overseen by U.S. District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Denver Field Office and the Cybercrime Investigations Division of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Cassidy and Anna Edgar handled the prosecution.
