A Nigerian software programmer and self-styled ‘tech queen’, Sapphire Egemasi, faces up to 20 years in federal prison after being arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over her alleged role in a transnational internet fraud and money laundering syndicate that defrauded multiple U.S. government institutions.
Egemasi was apprehended in the Bronx, New York, around April 10, 2025, following a federal grand jury indictment filed in 2024. The indictment charged her and several co-conspirators with participating in cybercrime activities between September 2021 and February 2023, targeting public institutions through phishing schemes and fraudulent money transfers.
Court documents reveal that Egemasi was a key technical operative in a sophisticated cybercrime network allegedly led by Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei. The group reportedly used spoofed websites and phishing tactics to deceive employees at U.S. municipal institutions, including the city government of Kentucky, into revealing secure login credentials.
Using her programming skills, Egemasi created fake websites that closely resembled those of U.S. government agencies. These counterfeit sites tricked users into entering sensitive information, which was then used to access government financial systems. Once inside, the syndicate allegedly diverted funds into accounts they controlled. Egemasi also played a role in laundering the stolen money through wire transfers across various banks.
One of the frauds cited in court involved a $965,000 transfer from the city of Kentucky to a PNC Bank account under the syndicate’s control in August 2022. In another instance, $330,000 was moved into a Bank of America account. These transactions were disguised to appear legitimate, according to prosecutors.
Investigators believe that before her arrest, Egemasi lived in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and had previously spent time in Ghana, where she met her co-conspirators. She is accused of falsely claiming to have interned with multinational companies such as British Petroleum (BP), H&M, and Zara in an attempt to legitimize her wealth and enhance her credibility on professional platforms.
On social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram, Egemasi projected an image of success, showcasing luxury fashion, international travel, and high-end tech devices. Her carefully maintained online presence earned her admiration among young African tech enthusiasts, many of whom viewed her as a rising star in the industry.
However, FBI investigators say her opulent lifestyle was funded by criminal proceeds, and her activities exposed vulnerabilities in government financial systems. She is currently in custody, and further court proceedings are expected in the coming weeks
