N2.6Billion Visa Fraud: American, Ramirez, Bags 68yr Jail Sentence in Nigeria
American businessman, Marco Antonio Ramirez, has been handed a hefty 68yr jail sentence by a Nigerian Court over visa fraud.
The verdict was delivered by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.
Ramirez was convicted for $1.2 million (about N2.6Billion) EB-5 visa scam.
The American, alongside his companies, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged $1,235,000 EB-5 visa scam.
Investigations showed that the victims paid Ramirez processing fees for their investments in his company, USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, in the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) United States of America Investor Programme, in order to qualify for eligibility of the USA Green Card.
The defendant, who was initially arraigned on 12 counts, did not keep to his side of the bargain.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges levelled against him.
The EFCC subsequently arraigned Ramirez on June 24, 2022, on an amended 16-count charge.
Count 13 of the amended charge reads thus: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between 5th February 2013 and 18th April 2013 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $545,000 property of Godson Onyemaechi Echegile.”
Count 14 reads thus: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between 12th July 2012 and 7th November 2012 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $314,800 property of Abubakar Umar Sadiq.”
Count 15 reads thus: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between 19th February 2013 and 18th April 2013 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $230,000 property of Abubakar Umar Sadiq.”
See Also: Court Grants N10 Million Bail Each to 10 Hunger Protesters Facing Treason Charges
After a series of adjournments from its scheduled date, hearing resumed on Tuesday.
It was the view of the presiding Justice, Dada, that the prosecution had proved its case against Ramirez beyond any reasonable doubt.
The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years each on counts one to 12 which bordered on obtaining by false pretence.
On counts 13 to 16 bordering on stealing, Ramirez was handed 10yrs each.
Ramirez was also found guilty on separate amended nine-count charge bordering on an alleged $368,698.24 fraud filed against him by the anti-graft agency.
Justice Dada found him guilty and sentenced him to 8yrs each on counts one to six and 10rs each on counts seven to eight.
