FBI Nabs ‘Tech Queen’ Sapphire Egemasi in $M Fraud Scandal

Sapphire Egemasi, a Nigerian software programmer known online as the “Tech Queen,” was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on April 10, 2025, in the Bronx, New York, for her alleged role in a sophisticated multimillion-dollar internet fraud and money laundering scheme targeting U.S. government agencies.

Egemasi, alongside her co-conspirators, including alleged ringleader Samuel Kwadwo Osei, a Ghanaian national, is currently in federal custody awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky, where they each face up to 20 years in prison, substantial fines, and potential deportation upon completion of their sentences.

According to court documents, Egemasi and her co-defendants, primarily Ghanaian nationals, orchestrated a transnational cybercrime syndicate that operated between September 2021 and February 2023. The group allegedly defrauded multiple U.S. government institutions, with a particular focus on the city government of Kentucky, siphoning millions of dollars through phishing schemes and spoofed websites.

Egemasi, a skilled programmer with a Devpost account, is accused of playing a pivotal role by designing and registering fake websites that mimicked official U.S. government domains. These fraudulent platforms were used to steal login credentials, enabling the syndicate to access and redirect public funds into accounts they controlled.

Court filings reveal specific instances of the syndicate’s operations. In August 2022, the group allegedly rerouted $965,000 from the city of Kentucky to a PNC Bank account. During the same period, an additional $330,000 was funneled into a Bank of America account.

These transactions were carefully masked to appear legitimate, complicating detection by financial institutions. Egemasi is also accused of facilitating the laundering of these funds through a network of domestic and international bank accounts, thereby obscuring their illicit origins.

The arrests followed a federal grand jury indictment filed in 2024, charging Egemasi and her co-conspirators with multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering. Federal prosecutors have indicated that the investigation is ongoing, with the potential for additional indictments as authorities work to dismantle the broader cybercrime network.

Sapphire Egemasi, who previously resided in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and spent time in Ghana, where she reportedly connected with her co-conspirators, cultivated a polished online persona as a tech entrepreneur and digital nomad.

On platforms like LinkedIn, where she amassed thousands of followers, Egemasi branded herself as a “Tech Queen,” showcasing her programming skills and claiming affiliations with prestigious multinational companies such as British Petroleum, H&M, and Zara. However, investigators allege these claims were largely fabricated, with Egemasi citing internships and roles at these companies to legitimize her wealth and bolster her public image.

Her social media profiles painted a picture of a glamorous lifestyle, featuring photos of lavish vacations to destinations like Greece, Portugal, and France. Prosecutors assert that these extravagant trips and displays of wealth, including designer outfits and high-end gadgets, were funded almost entirely by the proceeds of her alleged criminal activities.

The stark contrast between Egemasi’s curated online image and her alleged role in a cybercrime syndicate has drawn significant attention, with some describing her story as a cautionary tale about the dangers of performative wealth and deceptive online personas.

The FBI’s investigation into Egemasi and her co-conspirators uncovered a sophisticated operation that exploited vulnerabilities in government financial systems. Text message records retrieved by investigators provided critical evidence, confirming the syndicate’s financial transactions and Egemasi’s role in creating the technical infrastructure for the fraud.

Authorities believe she became the group’s primary tech specialist after meeting her co-conspirators in Ghana, leveraging her programming expertise to execute the scheme from abroad before her arrest in the United States.

Egemasi’s arrest in the Bronx, alongside Samuel Kwadwo Osei and other co-defendants, marks a significant step in the FBI’s efforts to combat transnational cybercrime. The agency has emphasized its commitment to identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in such schemes, regardless of their location.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll, in a related statement on cybercrime, underscored the agency’s resolve: “The FBI is determined to discover and disrupt frauds of this – and any – nature and will ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.”

The arrest of Sapphire Egemasi has sparked widespread discussion on platforms, where posts have highlighted both the scale of the alleged fraud and the irony of her “Tech Queen” persona. Some users expressed shock at the allegations, given Egemasi’s reputation as a role model for women in tech, while others condemned her actions, with one post urging, “Say No To FRAUD!!!” The case has fueled conversations about the authenticity of online personas, the allure of performative wealth, and the ethical responsibilities of tech professionals.

Egemasi’s case also highlights the growing threat of business email compromise (BEC) schemes and money laundering operations, which have resulted in significant financial losses worldwide.

In a related 2023 case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York charged six defendants in a similar multimillion-dollar wire fraud and money laundering scheme, highlighting the FBI’s ongoing efforts to tackle such crimes. Similarly, earlier cases involving Nigerian nationals extradited from the UK for cybercrimes indicate a pattern of transnational fraud targeting U.S. institutions.

Egemasi and her co-defendants are currently detained in federal custody in Lexington, Kentucky, awaiting trial. If convicted, they face severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison, thousands of dollars in fines, and the possibility of deportation to their respective countries. The trial is expected to shed further light on the inner workings of the cybercrime syndicate and Egemasi’s role within it.