Nigerian Man Sentenced for Role in €49,188 Romance Fraud

A Nigerian man has been sentenced to one year in prison for his involvement in a romance scam that defrauded a French national of €49,188. Edward Evbagharu, 46, pleaded guilty to money laundering during proceedings at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The fraudulent activities took place between February 12, 2021, and June 9, 2021.

Evbagharu, who resides in Lucan, facilitated the scam by allowing his bank accounts to be utilized for the transfer of funds. The victim, who met a woman claiming to be a Saudi Arabian refugee living in Texas, was misled into believing she could not access €5 million held in an Irish bank account due to her asylum status. Trusting her story, he communicated with the woman’s lawyers and was instructed to make several payments over a six-month period.

Detective Garda Barry Brennan explained to the court that a total of €49,188 was taken from the victim, with €31,000 of that amount processed through Evbagharu’s accounts linked to An Post, Ria Money Transfer, and TransferWise. These accounts were ultimately controlled by two co-accused individuals. The victim grew suspicious and sought legal advice, which led him to report the situation to the Gardaí.

The court heard that the victim submitted a victim impact statement, which described his ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression as a result of the scam. He has since been under psychiatric care in France and now relies on state support. The judge noted that the victim feels his life has been “turned upside-down” and described himself as “a shadow of the man he used to be.”

During the hearing, Evbagharu’s defense attorney, Pat O’Sullivan, characterized the scam as “quite elaborate,” expressing disbelief that someone could fall for such a scheme. O’Sullivan highlighted Evbagharu’s long-term employment in the security sector and his contributions to society since moving to Ireland in 2009, where he became a citizen in 2013. The defense argued that Evbagharu had not profited from the scheme, claiming he was merely helping a friend without a bank account.

Despite the defense’s claims, Detective Garda Brennan contested this narrative, stating that Evbagharu failed to provide any documentation to support his version of events. The judge, Dara Hayes, acknowledged that while Evbagharu did not defraud the victim directly, he facilitated the operation, which involved a significant amount of money over an extended period.

Ultimately, Judge Hayes imposed a two-year sentence, suspending the final year based on Evbagharu’s early guilty plea and his lack of prior involvement with law enforcement since the incident. The judge took note of Evbagharu’s previous convictions, which include handling stolen property and multiple road traffic offenses, but recognized his otherwise stable work history and personal circumstances.

As the case concludes, it serves as a reminder of the complexities and dangers associated with online scams, emphasizing the need for vigilance in digital interactions.