Kingsley Uchelue Utulu, 38, is a Nigerian who was found guilty of masterminding a massive identity theft and hacking scheme that cheated the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and private individuals out of more than $2.5 million.
Vie was sentenced to five years and three months in a U.S. federal prison.
A U.S. federal judge imposed the punishment after FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton made the news over the weekend.
According to authorities, Utulu was a major player in a highly skilled cybercriminal network that broke into US tax preparation firms, stole private information, and used it to submit false tax returns and obtain unauthorized refunds.
“Kingsley Utulu thought he could hide behind borders while victimizing Americans and manipulating the tax system,” said Attorney Clayton. “But this case sends a clear message—cybercriminals will be pursued relentlessly, no matter where they operate from.”
The scheme involved hacking into databases of U.S.-based financial platforms, trading stolen identities on the dark web, and exploiting them to siphon money from government agencies and citizens alike.
Utulu was arrested in the United Kingdom and later extradited to the U.S. to face trial. In addition to his prison sentence, he has been ordered to pay $3,683,029.39 in restitution and forfeit $290,250 in illegal proceeds.
The sentencing comes shortly after the convictions of two other Nigerian nationals, Abel Daramola and Olutayo Ogunlaja, for their roles in a $560,000 international romance fraud. Both men face up to 20 years behind bars.
FBI official Raia emphasized that international cybercrime remains a top priority: “We will continue to pursue those who think distance or nationality can shield them from justice.”
