FBI Nabs Nigerian ‘Tech Queen’ Sapphire Egemasi Over Multi-Million Dollar US Fraud
Sapphire Egemasi, a Nigerian tech enthusiast popularly known as “Tech Queen,” has been arrested by the FBI over an alleged multi-million-dollar fraud targeting several US government agencies.
Egemasi, a programmer with a Devpost profile, was picked up in Bronx, New York, around April 10, 2025, along with other suspects, including a Ghanaian national, Samuel Kwadwo Osei, said to be the ringleader.
According to a US grand jury indictment filed in 2024, the accused ran an internet fraud and money laundering scheme between September 2021 and February 2023.
Investigators said Egemasi and her co-conspirators defrauded the city of Kentucky of millions of dollars through fake government websites used to harvest login credentials and divert public funds.
She reportedly played a central role as the group’s tech lead, creating spoof websites and coordinating fraudulent transfers to accounts controlled by the syndicate.
Authorities also revealed that Egemasi had previously lived in Ghana but was based in Cambridge, UK, before her arrest.
In August 2022, the gang allegedly diverted $965,000 into a PNC Bank account and moved another $330,000 into a Bank of America account.
To hide her wealth, Egemasi allegedly claimed experience with companies like British Petroleum, Zara, and H&M. Prosecutors say she flaunted a luxurious lifestyle online, showing off trips to Greece and Portugal funded by illicit proceeds.
Egemasi and her co-defendants are in federal custody and awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison, heavy fines, and deportation.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
