Five alleged leaders of the Black Axe organization have been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face federal charges tied to years of online romance scams, advance fee schemes and money laundering.
Perry Osagiede, 57, Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42, Osariemen Eric Clement, 40, Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42, and Musa Mudashiru, 38, were transferred to U.S. custody on September 11 and appeared in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
Prosecutors identify the five men as leaders of the Cape Town Zone of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as Black Axe. Perry Osagiede is accused of founding the Cape Town chapter and serving as its zonal head.
The superseding indictment covers alleged conduct from 2011 through 2021. The men were arrested in South Africa in 2021 at the request of the United States and remained there during the lengthy extradition proceedings. The federal charges are accusations, and all five are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Romance Scams Used Construction Emergencies in South Africa
#sapsHAWKS [SIX NIGERIAN NATIONALS WANTED IN THE USA FOR ONLINE LOVE SCAMS EXTRADITED THROUGH COLLABORATION BY THE HAWKS AND INTERPOL]
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the #Hawks, in collaboration with #INTERPOL South Africa, yesterday,… pic.twitter.com/jKkWsVcETZ
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 12, 2026
Federal prosecutors say conspirators used dating websites, social media and internet based telephone numbers to approach people in the United States while operating under false identities.
One recurring story involved a supposed romantic partner traveling to South Africa for construction work and then encountering financial problems involving a work site or crane. Victims were asked to send money or valuable items such as phones, tablets and computers.
Some schemes included additional fictional characters, while prosecutors say members shared successful fraud narratives with one another. When victims resisted further payments, conspirators allegedly used pressure tactics that included threats to distribute sensitive photographs.
Victims’ Bank Accounts Were Used to Move Money Overseas
The alleged operation also relied on U.S. financial accounts to move proceeds to South Africa. Prosecutors say some victims were persuaded to open accounts and allow members of the organization to use them.
Other accounts belonging to people in the United States allegedly received money before it was transferred overseas. Federal investigators also accuse the defendants and their associates of laundering proceeds from business email compromise schemes in addition to romance and advance fee fraud.
Business entities were used to disguise the source of transactions. The Justice Department’s Black Axe case page identifies companies associated with defendants and other participants, including Peroski Auto & Spares and Edosflex.
The Extradition Took Nearly Five Years
South African authorities arrested members of the group in 2021 after the United States requested their detention. The defendants then challenged extradition through South African courts before being transferred to American custody.
The South African Police Service said six Nigerian nationals were handed over to U.S. authorities on September 11 with assistance from the Hawks and Interpol. Its announcement included Prince Ibeabuchi Mark in addition to the five defendants named in the latest New Jersey federal case.
Another defendant in the Cape Town investigation, Enorense Izevbigie, was extradited separately in December 2024 and is facing related wire fraud and money laundering charges.
Several Defendants Face Additional Federal Counts
All five newly extradited defendants face conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Clement also face substantive wire fraud charges. Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Otughwor are charged with aggravated identity theft.
Wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy each carry a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison. Money laundering conspiracy also carries up to 20 years, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive two year term if a defendant is convicted.
The FBI and U.S. Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from South African authorities, Interpol, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Romance Scam Victims Can Be Asked to Move Money for Someone Else
A romance scam can continue after the first payment. Someone who claims to be a romantic partner may introduce repeated emergencies, ask for expensive electronics or eventually request access to a bank account.
Requests to open an account, receive money from unfamiliar people or businesses, or forward funds overseas should be treated as serious warning signs. A victim can unknowingly become involved in moving fraud proceeds even when the original relationship appeared personal.
Threats involving intimate photographs should also be preserved rather than answered with additional payments. Save dating profiles, aliases, messages, telephone numbers, bank records and transaction details that may help investigators identify the people involved.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office maintains a dedicated Black Axe case page with a questionnaire for people who believe they may have been targeted. Internet enabled fraud can also be reported to the FBI through IC3.gov.