Two Nigerians, Chinagorom Onwumere and Stephen Anagor, have been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison in the United States for their involvement in a deadly romance scam that led to the death of an elderly American citizen.

The sentences were handed down by Judge Clifton L. Corker of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Also implicated was Salma Abdalkareem, a 29-year-old Sudanese national.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Onwumere, 36, received a four-and-a-half-year prison term after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death, and aiding and abetting money laundering. Court filings indicate that Onwumere and Anagor met during military training in South Carolina in June 2023.

The case highlights the deadly consequences of online romance scams and the increasing efforts by U.S. authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.