FBI wanted female internet fraudster, ‘Jay Jay’ bags 2 –year-jail term

 Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal HIgh Court sitting in Warri Delta state has sentenced Joan Uruvbu (alias Jay Jay), who is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI) in the United States to two years imprisonment for conspiracy and fraud.

The Benin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged the convict before the court on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and intent to defraud, besides the alleged fraud he committed in America.

But, the defendant pleaded guilty to the two- count charge.

One of the counts reads: “That you,  Joan Uruvbu (alias Jay Jay),  Daniel Mercedes, Paul Tommy and Sally (all at large) between 2018 and 2019 in Benin City did conspire to used attached e-mail to obtain personal  identification information of others online to use same to file fraudulent tax returns with the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America ( USA) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section (27) (b) of the Cybercrime (prohibtion prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 36 (1) of the same Act.”

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In view of her plea, the counsel for the EFCC, L.P. Aso prayed the court that the defendant be convicted and sentenced accordingly.  

However, the defence counsel, John Okhihiegbe pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant was a first-time offender, a youth who has a future ahead of her and has shown remorse.

Justice Emeka Nwite after listening to the defence and prosecution counsels convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years in prison commencing from the date of arrest or a fine of N1million.

He ordered that all items recovered from the defendant be forfeited to the federal government while restitution should be made to her victims.

Justice Nwite also ruled that the convict sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour henceforth.