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Mark Arome Okuo, of Canton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and obstruction of justice earlier this year, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Along with his 55 months in prison, Okuo must repay his victims, the judge ruled.
Investigators said Okuo took part in romance scams, where he would meet his victims on dating and social media apps, gain their trust, and then lie and trick them into sending him money.
Okuo used four fake passports to open more than a dozen bank accounts around the Boston area to help him hide the money he stole, officials said.
He bragged about his exploits in text messages with friends, where he called his victims "mugu," a Nigerian slang word for fools, the prosecutor said.
Police arrested Okuo in March 2021. Officials said he obstructed justice in multiple ways, including telling cooperating witnesses to lie to police and prosecutors.
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