Tamale ‘Sakawa King’ faces 20-years jail term plus $500k fine in USA

Maxwell Abayate Peter, the 26-year-old resident of Tamale who has been arrested alongside his Nigerian accomplices for their roles in Africa-base cyber fraud could face a jail term of not less than 20 years and a fine of $500,000 according to copies of a bill of indictment by the US Department of Justice intercepted by MyNewsGh.com.

The suspect is standing trial at Western District of Tennessee alongside Babatunde Martins, 62, of Ghana and Bernard Emurhowhoariogho Okorhi, 39, a Nigerian citizen who resides in Ghana face charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and aggravated identity fraud according to the United States (US) Department of Justice

According to the indictment documents sighted by MyNewsGh.com, he faces nine counts (Counts 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14) including Money Laundering, Embezzlement and others which penalties is up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000, plus supervised release for up to 3 years.

On the count 10 according to the Bill of Indictment, he has been charged for conspiracy to defraud the United States and when convicted he will serve up to 5 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, plus supervised release for up to 1 year.

In another count, he has been charged for Fraud by Wire, Radio, or Television and may get penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, plus supervised release for up to 3 years.

Unknown to Maxwell Peter he was being trailed by officials of The Federal Bureau of Investigation who were closing up on him and his gang he was reported to have on May 26, 2017which penalties sent a WhatsApp message directing an undercover Memphis FBI agent to receive a $15,000 check on his behalf.

Days later on May 30, 2017, Maxwell Peter directed the FBI agent to send $5,000 of the proceeds to himself in Ghana and on June 2, 2017 he gave an order for the FBI agent to send a $15,000 check to himself in Ghana.

These and many other transactions blew their cover leading to the arrest of Maxwell Peter and his gang who by a combined team Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), INTERPOL and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for defrauding U.S. companies and citizens of approximately $15 million in various scams.