Nigerian Extradited to U.S. Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison Over $2M Sextortion Fraud

By LEVI JOHNSON

A UK-based Nigerian, Olamide Shanu, has appeared in a U.S. federal court after being extradited from the United Kingdom and now faces a possible 20-year prison term over a sextortion and romance scam scheme that allegedly bilked victims out of more than $2 million.

What’s New

• Shanu was arraigned on September 17, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham in Boise, Idaho. Department of Justice+1
• He is charged in an eight-count indictment including: wire fraud conspiracy; aggravated identity theft; conspiracy to commit interstate extortion communications; cyberstalking; extortion; money laundering; and related offenses. Department of Justice+1
• The alleged scheme involved posing as women on social media, persuading primarily male victims to send explicit images, then extorting them by threatening exposure unless payments were made. The scam included victims across the United States, including a college student in Idaho. Accounts say proceeds were laundered through cryptocurrency wallets and peer-to-peer payment apps. Department of Justice+2KSL+2

Legal & Prosecutorial Details

• Shanu was arrested in London on November 7, 2023 and has been in custody since. Department of Justice+1
• If convicted, Shanu faces up to 20 years in U.S. federal prison and is also liable for restitution to victims for their losses. Department of Justice+1
• The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho. Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott expressed gratitude to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. State Department, and the UK National Crime Agency for help in Shanu’s extradition. Department of Justice+1

Why This Matters

• Sextortion and romance scams continue to be a growing cybercrime threat globally; this case spotlights how perpetrators exploit social media and anonymity to target vulnerable individuals.
• The use of cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment systems for laundering underscores the challenges for law enforcement in tracking and prosecuting cross-border cyber-enabled fraud.
• The extradition reflects strengthened cooperation between the U.S., UK, and Nigeria in pursuing cybercrime cases, which could serve as precedents for future cases.