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A Nigerian man, Kenneth Godwin, has been charged in the United States over an alleged wire fraud scheme linked to a casino in South Dakota.
The US Department of Justice said a federal grand jury indicted Godwin on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and illegal access to a protected computer.
Authorities believe he is currently living in Nigeria.
According to investigators, the alleged fraud occurred between May 2023 and March 2026 and targeted Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel, a business owned by the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.
If convicted, Godwin could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, supervised release and possible restitution payments.
FBI official Christopher Dotson said the case involved an international business email fraud operation that severely affected the tribal business.
“This international business e-mail compromise scheme caused substantial financial damage to a business owned and operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota,” he said.
Another official, Parsons, warned that the FBI would continue tracking suspects no matter where they are located.
“No agency on earth is better at this than the FBI. They will track down those who steal from and commit fraud against the people of the United States wherever those offenders may be,” he said.
The FBI is investigating the case, while Assistant US Attorney Ben Patterson is handling the prosecution.
Authorities also stressed that the charges remain allegations at this stage and that Godwin is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
