A Nigerian national, Avwerosuo Omokri, has been implicated in a high-profile cryptocurrency scam after U.S. authorities seized $1.5 million from his Binance wallet. The operation, led by Special Agent Katrina Caulfield of the U.S. Secret Service, was launched following multiple complaints from victims who lost substantial sums to fraudulent investment schemes. According to GazetteNG, the investigation uncovered a well-organized syndicate operating fake trading platforms to defraud unsuspecting individuals.
The case came to light in March 2024 when a Massachusetts resident, identified as Victim 1, reported losing 1.33272285 BTC (Bitcoin) to a scam. The victim had joined a Facebook group called “Financial Independence Forum,” which promised members lucrative returns through online trading. The group’s administrator, Tom Sheldon Haley, posed as an investment expert and convinced Victim 1 to invest in a platform named Trade Propel.
After transferring 1.3 BTC to a wallet provided by Haley, Victim 1 attempted to withdraw her funds but was instructed to pay a “tax on earnings” before accessing her money. This tactic, according to Caulfield, is a hallmark of such scams designed to extract additional funds from victims. “Scammers often demand payments for fictitious taxes or fees to further exploit their targets,” she explained in her court submission.
Investigations into Trade Propel revealed multiple red flags. The website lacked basic company information, policies, or contact details but falsely claimed endorsements from prominent figures like George Soros, Paul Tudor, and Ray Dalio. It also misrepresented affiliations with regulatory bodies such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
Using blockchain analysis, authorities traced the victim’s funds to an intermediary wallet, a common tool used by fraudsters to obscure the origin of illicit funds. Despite these efforts, Caulfield successfully tracked the Bitcoin to a final wallet registered to Omokri, whose identity was confirmed through Binance records. The wallet was linked to the email address [email protected].
Further scrutiny revealed that the Tom Sheldon Haley Facebook account was operated by a syndicate, with lower-level members engaging victims on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Higher-level operatives managed the wallets and laundered the proceeds. Binance records showed that Omokri’s syndicate accessed the wallets using four different devices.
Additional victims were identified during the investigation. Victim 2 lost $29,000, while Victim 3 lost $35,000, with both payments traced to the same intermediary wallet. A fourth victim was directed to a separate wallet, highlighting the syndicate’s extensive operations.
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On February 16, 2025, Caulfield filed a motion for the forfeiture of the seized assets, which include 7.23918814 BTC, 105.75351403 ETH, 636.11899592 AVAX, 14,120.995091 USDT, 2,380,467,906.17 SHIB, and 319,008,151.01 PEPE. The funds were identified as proceeds of wire fraud and money laundering.
This case underscores the increasing sophistication of cryptocurrency scams and the critical role of law enforcement in combating such crimes. The U.S. Secret Service’s success in tracking and seizing these funds highlights the importance of vigilance and robust regulatory measures in the digital asset space.
