Nigerian software programmer and self-proclaimed “Tech Queen” Sapphire Egemasi faces up to 20 years in a U.S. federal prison following her arrest by the FBI over her alleged involvement in a transnational cyber fraud syndicate. According to the Daily Post Nigeria, Egemasi was apprehended on April 10, 2025, in the Bronx, New York, in connection with a federal indictment filed in 2024. The indictment accuses her and multiple co-conspirators of engaging in internet fraud and money laundering schemes between September 2021 and February 2023.
Court documents reveal that Egemasi played a critical role in a sophisticated cybercrime network allegedly led by Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei. The group reportedly targeted municipal institutions across the U.S., including the city government of Kentucky, using phishing campaigns and spoofed websites to steal employee credentials and reroute public funds into fraudulent bank accounts. One court filing detailed how the syndicate successfully redirected $965,000 from the city of Kentucky into a PNC Bank account under their control in August 2022. Another fraudulent transaction saw $330,000 moved into a Bank of America account, all masked to appear as legitimate payments, making detection more difficult.
Investigators allege that Egemasi helped launder the stolen funds, using a network of domestic and international bank accounts to obscure the trail. She reportedly claimed false professional ties to multinational companies such as BP, H&M, and Zara in an attempt to legitimize her unexplained wealth and bolster her online reputation. Before her arrest, she was known for flaunting a lavish lifestyle on social media, showcasing designer outfits, high-end gadgets, and travel to luxury destinations such as Greece, Portugal, and France.
Egemasi is currently in federal custody, alongside her Ghanaian co-defendants, awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison, hefty financial penalties, and potential deportation after serving her sentence. Federal prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing, with more indictments expected as authorities work to dismantle the wider cybercrime network.(Daily Post)
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