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Wedding Day Turns to Jail Time: Couple arrested for alleged $3m fraud
A planned wedding in Houston, Texas, took a dramatic turn as the soon-to-be-married couple, Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, were arrested on charges of defrauding elderly Americans of over $3 million through online romance scams.
The couple was scheduled to marry on May 25, but their arrest has led to the cancellation of the ceremony. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, Akporugo and Sood allegedly conspired for over seven years, targeting widowed victims on social media and dating platforms.
“A Nigerian man who resided in Fulshear is set to appear in court on allegations he conspired to defraud over a dozen elder Americans who thought they were in romantic online relationships and sent millions to a network of fraudsters,” stated U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani in April.
“Darlington Akporugo, 46, is scheduled for a detention hearing at 9 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison. Akporugo allegedly conspired with Jasmin Sood, 35, also of Fulshear, to commit wire and mail fraud.”
The fraudulent activities reportedly took place between 2015 and 2022, during which they cultivated trust with their victims, coaxing them into transferring substantial sums of money to accounts controlled by Akporugo and Sood.
The indictment claims they defrauded no fewer than 13 victims of $3,123,073, leading to a notice of forfeiture for all unlawfully acquired proceeds.
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“The indictment also charges Akporugo with aggravated identity theft and fraud in connection with an access device. The scheme allegedly resulted in at least 13 victims being defrauded of an approximate $3,123,073.
The indictment includes notice of forfeiture for all illegally derived proceeds from the fraud scheme,” the statement read.
If convicted, both Akporugo and Sood face up to 30 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and conspiracy. Akporugo faces an additional 10 years for fraud in connection with an access device and another mandatory two years if convicted of aggravated identity theft.
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