Two charged in Nigerian Internet scam

Original article located here : http://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-and ... fa7c5.html

An East Moline woman is behind bars and a warrant has been issued for her partner after police say the couple engaged in a Nigerian-based Internet scam over the past several months.

Barbara J. Segura, 57, is charged with wire fraud, a Class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison, money laundering and two counts of theft, all Class 2 felonies punishable by three to seven years in prison.

Bond was set Tuesday at $50,000. She will be back in court March 3 for a preliminary hearing.

A warrant has been issued for Frederico K. Sausedo, 48, of East Moline, who is charged with two counts of money laundering, two counts of theft in excess of $10,000 and wire fraud.

According to East Moline police, the couple participated in a scheme since August that involved money being sent from victims all over the United States to bank accounts controlled by the two.

Police say Segura and Sausedo withdrew the money from the bank accounts and then wired money to subjects in Nigeria.

Police say the scheme involved collecting money from victims who thought they were applying for a government grant to receive large sums of money in return. The scheme involved between $10,000 and $100,000, according to police.

Police started to investigate the case in February with the help of the Internet Crime Complaint Center to identify possible victims around the country, a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center, Lt. Darren Gault said.

Gault said there are "multiple" possible victims, but he is unsure of the exact number.

Police still were looking for Sausedo as of Tuesday. Sausedo is 5 feet 9 inches tall, 150 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone who knows about his whereabouts is asked to call East Moline police at 309-752-1555.

[AlanJones]

Barbara J. Segura, 57, charged with wire fraud, money laundering and two counts of theft



Frederico K. Sausedo, 48, of East Moline, charged with two counts of money laundering, two counts of theft in excess of $10,000 and wire fraud.

Second suspect in Nigerian Internet scam in custody

Original article here : http://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-and ... 93255.html

6 hours ago • By Tara Becker

An East Moline man accused of running an online Nigerian-based scam was in the Rock Island County Jail on a $50,000 bond Thursday.

Frederico K. Sausedo, 48, of East Moline is charged with two counts of money laundering, two counts of theft in excess of $10,000 and wire fraud.

Sausedo was arrested about 5:55 p.m. Tuesday, East Moline Police Detective Darren Gault said. He will be in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Barbara J. Segura, 57, also is charged with wire fraud, money laundering and two counts of theft in connection with the case. She also was in the jail on a $50,000 bond.

Police say Sausedo and Segura engaged in a scheme that involved collecting money from victims who thought they were applying for a government grant to receive large sums of money in return. The scheme involved between $10,000 and $100,000, according to police.

The couple then withdrew the money from the bank accounts and wired money to people in Nigeria, according to police.

Nice

http://www.qconline.com/news/crime/em-c ... 069e2.html

EM couple accused in Nigerian scam plead not guilty to federal charges

By Rachel Warmke, [email protected]
An East Moline couple pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges accusing them of participating in a Nigerian money scam.

Judge Sara Darrow ordered Frederico Sausedo, 48, and Barbara Segura, 57, to remain in federal custody while the defendants undergo substance abuse evaluations.

Results of the evaluations are expected to be discussed at a June 11 hearing.

The couple were indicted last week in U.S. District Court, Rock Island. Court records allege that, from June 2014 through February, Ms. Segura and Mr. Sausedo used Facebook and email to offer victims large amounts of cash prizes or grants in exchange for the victims first paying "taxes and fees."

Prosecutors said victims of the schemes wired payments to the defendants' bank accounts but never received the promised prizes or grants. The defendants allegedly withdrew proceeds from the wire transfers and sent the majority of the money to alleged co-conspirators in Nigeria and other locations.

Prosecutors said the scheme cost victims a total of at least $95,000.

The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, punishable by up to five years in prison, and nine counts of wire fraud, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

On Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Allegro said the defendants, if convicted of all crimes, each face up to 275 years in prison and a fine of up to $9 million.