Sapphire Egemasi
Nigerian software developer, Sapphire Egemasi, known as the “Tech Queen,” is currently in federal custody in the United States, facing serious charges related to a widespread internet fraud and money laundering operation.
U.S. prosecutors allege that 28-year-old Egemasi was part of a syndicate that defrauded several American government institutions out of millions of dollars.
Egemasi was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in April 2025 following a federal grand jury indictment issued in 2024. The indictment accuses her and multiple co-conspirators, led by Ghanaian, Samuel Kwadwo Osei, of orchestrating a coordinated cyber operation targeting U.S. city governments through phishing attacks and spoofed websites.
Accounting to reports by the People’s Gazzette, court filings reveal that between September 2021 and February 2023, the syndicate created fake websites designed to mimic official domains of American government agencies. Their goal was to deceive municipal employees into entering secure login credentials, which were subsequently used to divert funds into fraudulent accounts controlled by the group.
Investigators claim that Egemasi played a crucial role in the technical execution of the scheme, developing the spoofed websites used for phishing operations and facilitating the routing of stolen funds through a series of wire transfers across various banks.
In one notable instance, prosecutors allege that the group successfully diverted $965,000 from the government of Kentucky into an account at PNC Bank. In another case, they moved $330,000 into a Bank of America account, utilising sophisticated methods and false documentation to mimic legitimate government disbursements.
Prior to her arrest, Egemasi resided in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and had spent time in Ghana, where she is believed to have first connected with other members of the fraud ring. Allegedly recruited for her software programming skills, she quickly became the primary tech specialist for the syndicate.
To mask the source of her income, Egemasi reportedly claimed on social media that she had interned at prestigious firms such as British Petroleum, HM, and Zara—assertions that U.S. prosecutors say lack supporting employment records. On platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram, she cultivated an image of a successful young African woman thriving in the tech industry, showcasing designer fashion, luxury gadgets, and travel across countries including France, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates.
Federal authorities contend that the lavish lifestyle she portrayed online was funded by proceeds from her fraudulent activities. They argue that her carefully curated public persona was designed to deflect suspicion while she remained actively involved in the illegal operation.
Egemasi and her co-defendants are now awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky. If convicted, she faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, financial restitution, and possible deportation after serving her time.
The case is part of a broader crackdown by U.S. federal agencies on transnational cybercrime, especially fraud schemes that exploit public institutions. While the investigation remains ongoing, prosecutors have indicated that more individuals connected to the case may face charges.