Matthew Ejike Nwachukwu, a Nigerian National, will spend the next six years in prison following a Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) probe into a”romance” scam.
The probe focused on fraudulent romance schemes and package delivery scams which occurred in 2022 that defrauded dozens of Guyanese of millions of dollars countrywide.
On Thursday (June 12, 2025), Magistrate Liverpool of Wismar Magistrate Court found the Nigerian National guilty on two (2) counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, contrary to Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8.01, and sentenced him to three (3) years imprisonment each on both counts.
In September 2022, Ejike was charged and remanded on both charges. One of the complainants whose case was on trial recounted that she was befriended by a German man (mastermind) and that they later developed a long-distance relationship. She recalled that in July 2022, her German partner indicated that he would be sending packages for her with valuables via FedEx.
She stated that after three days, she received a call from a foreign number stating that the packages had arrived in Guyana and that she would be required to pay the sum of GD$155,000 to various persons at the Mc Kenzie Post Office to uplift the package.
She related that she believed the packages to be genuine after she was informed that diamonds and other valuables were in the packages and that the sum of GD$155,000 was required to ensure that the packages were not confiscated on the basis of Money Laundering.
At the trial, SOCU led evidence to show that the defendant, Matthew Ejike Nwackukwu was an accessory to the crime and that he arranged agents on behalf of the German mastermind to uplift monies from the virtual complainant at the MacKenzie Post Office.
The matter was prosecuted by Prosecutors Aaron Daniels and Neville Jeffers from the Special Organised Crime Unit, and Attorney-at-Law Lawrence Harris represented the defendant, Matthew Ejike Nwachukwu.
SOCU reported that efforts are being made to apprehend the German mastermind and other accomplices. As investigation continues into a massive package delivery romance schemes by Nigerian Nationals operating in Guyana.
