- Marco Antonio Ramirez, an American businessman, received a 74-year prison sentence for defrauding victims of $1.2 million
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved that Ramirez's promises for EB-5 visas were fraudulent
- Court found Ramirez guilty on multiple charges, including $250,000 fraud, leading to 74-year sentence
A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has handed down a 74-year prison sentence to Marco Antonio Ramirez, an American businessman.
The sentence was delivered by Justice Mojisola Dada on Tuesday, September 11, after Ramirez was found guilty of defrauding victims of $1.2 million through an EB-5 visa scam, plus an additional $368,698.24 in fraudulent schemes.
Dada, in her verdict, stated, “The convict dishonestly converted the money meant for investments to his personal use.
“The prosecution has successfully proved that the promises made to the victims were false, and the funds obtained were under fraudulent pretences.”
Ramirez jailed for defrauding investors with US green cards
The court convicted Ramirez on two consolidated charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC stated that Ramirez and his companies, USA Now LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, deceived victims by promising them access to the Employment-Based Fifth Preference USA Investor Program, which would have made them eligible for a Green Card and permanent residency, but Ramirez failed to fulfil this promise.
Rather than keeping his promises, Ramirez diverted the funds for his personal use.
The EFCC indicated that Ramirez’s fraudulent activities occurred in 2013, with victim Godson Echegile losing $545,000 under the pretence that it was a processing fee for an investment that would qualify him for a U.S. Green Card through the EB-5 program.
Ramirez received combined 28-year sentence on 16 charges
The court found that the evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient to meet the standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.
On the first charge, Ramirez was given an eight-year prison term for counts one to six, and a ten-year term for counts seven and eight.
On the second charge, Ramirez received ten-year sentences for counts one through twelve, which involved obtaining money by deception, and ten years for counts thirteen through sixteen, related to stealing.
Ramirez was originally charged with 12 counts of fraud and pleaded not guilty. Subsequently, the EFCC revised the charges, leading to Ramirez being re-arraigned on 16 counts on June 24, 2022.
Ramirez, guilty of all charges, court imposes 40-year sentence
According to reports, the American committed the crimes on February 5, 2013, and April 18, 2013, in Lagos.
At the start of the trial, prosecution counsel M.S. Owede, supported by Samuel Daji, presented various documentary evidence and called witnesses to substantiate the allegations against the defendant, who was subsequently cross-examined by defence counsel Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN).
The case was postponed several times during the period for adopting final written addresses. It was only on May 8, 2024, that the counsel finalized their addresses, prompting the judge to adjourn for the judgment.
In delivering the judgment on Tuesday, Dada found Ramirez guilty of all charges. Ramirez received a 10-year sentence for each of counts one through twelve for obtaining pretences and another 10-year term for each of counts thirteen through sixteen for theft.
Ramirez bags an additional 18 years from a nine-count charge
The judge additionally convicted him on a separate amended nine-count charge involving fraud totalling $368,698.24. In another case, Ramirez was found guilty of defrauding Gabriel Ogie Edeoghon of $250,000 on July 26, 2013.
Ramirez received extra sentences of eight years each for counts one to six and ten years each for counts seven and eight concerning this particular fraud.
He fraudulently claimed that the funds were for investing in Now Energy Capital Group LP in the USA, which would grant Edeoghon eligibility for a U.S. Green Card under the EB-5 visa program.
UK Court jails 4 Nigerians over mass production of fake marriage certificates
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that four Nigerians received jail terms for producing more than 2,000 counterfeit marriage certificates used to enable unlawful entry into the United Kingdom.
Their activities spanned from March 2019 to May 2024 year, during which they were found to have issued fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other deceptive documents to help applicants stay in the country.