September 11, (THEWILL) – An American businessman, Marco Antonio Ramirez, has been convicted and sentenced to 74 years imprisonment, for defrauding victims of $1.2m, through an EB-5 visa scam and an additional $368,698.24, in fraud.
Ramirez was found guilty on two separate consolidated charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to Court documents, Ramirez and his companies, USA Now LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, obtained the said money from their victims by promising them access to the Employment-Based Fifth Preference United States of America Investor Programme, which would qualify them to be eligible for the issuance of USA Green Card and permanent residency, but that the convict reneged on his promise.
“Instead of fulfilling these promises, Ramirez converted the funds for his personal use”, the prosecution added.
One of the victims, Godson Echegile, lost $545,000, under the false pretext that it was a processing fee for his investment, which would qualify him for a U.S. Green Card through the EB-5 programme.
The American was said to have committed the offences on February 5, 2013, and April 18, 2013, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Ramirez was initially arraigned on 12 counts bordering on fraud, the EFCC later amended the charge and re-arraigned Ramirez on 16 counts on June 24, 2022.
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, in Ikeja, Justice Mojisola Dada, found Ramirez guilty as charged and sentenced him to 10 years each on counts one to 12, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, and 10 years each on counts 13 to 16 bordering on stealing.
On the first charge, Ramirez was sentenced to eight years each on counts one to six, and 10 years each on counts seven and eight.
“The convict dishonestly converted the money meant for investments to his personal use. The prosecution has successfully proved that the promises made to the victims were false and the funds obtained were under fraudulent pretences”, the court held.
Also, the judge found Ramirez guilty on a separate amended nine-count charge of an alleged $368,698.24 fraud.
He falsely claimed that the money was for an investment in the USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, which would make Edeoghon eligible for a U.S. Green Card through the EB-5 visa programme.
