Fugitive Nigerian Scammer, Simon Guobadia, Arrested by ICE Agents After Living Illegally in the United States with a Fake Green Card
In a major victory for U.S. immigration authorities, Simon Guobadia, a notorious Nigerian scammer, was arrested by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents after it was discovered that he had been living in the United States with a fraudulent green card.
According to reports, Guobadia, a 45-year-old Nigerian national, entered the United States in 2015 using a fake green card, which was obtained through a fraudulent marriage to a U.S. citizen. For several years, Guobadia lived and worked in the United States, evading detection by immigration authorities and hiding in plain sight.
However, his luck ran out when ICE agents received a tip that Guobadia was operating a sophisticated online scam targeting American businesses and individuals. The agency launched an investigation, which revealed that the suspect was not only living in the United States illegally but also engaging in large-scale fraud.
Guobadia’s scam involved defrauding numerous victims out of tens of thousands of dollars, often using his fake green card to gain their trust. He would pose as a wealthy businessman or a high-ranking government official, promising lucrative investment opportunities or government contracts in exchange for substantial sums of money. Once he had gained their trust, he would disappear, leaving his victims with significant financial losses.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of ICE agents, Guobadia was tracked down and arrested on Wednesday at his residence in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. He was taken into custody and charged with various immigration violations, including fraud, false representation, and smuggling of a person.
"It’s a major victory for ICE and a significant blow to the scourge of terrorism and fraud that threatens our national security" said a senior ICE official. "We will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute individuals like Simon Guobadia, who think they can exploit our country’s immigration system for their own nefarious purposes."
Guobadia’s arrest has sent a strong message to would-be scammers and fraudsters, making it clear that the U.S. government will not tolerate such illegal activities. "We will continue to target and dismantle these criminal organizations, and bring to justice those who engage in fraudulent activities that harm innocent people and undermine the trust in our financial and business systems," added the official.
Guobadia’s case also highlights the importance of immigration reform and the need for the U.S. government to strengthen its immigration laws and procedures to prevent the misuse of the system by fraudsters and terrorists. "It’s a wake-up call for us to revisit our immigration reforms and ensure that our borders are secure and our laws are effective in preventing abuse," stated a member of Congress.
The ICE arrest and detention of Simon Guobadia is a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to combat fraud and immigration abuse in the United States. As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone who may have been a victim of Guobadia’s scams to come forward and report the incident to the authorities.
