Nigerian programmer Sapphire Egemasi, known online as a “tech queen,” faces over 20 years in prison after the FBI arrested her for allegedly helping defraud U.S. government agencies of millions of dollars.
Egemasi was taken into custody in April 2025 in the Bronx, New York, alongside other suspects, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei, believed to be the leader of the fraudsters.
The charges stem from a federal indictment for internet fraud and money laundering, with crimes said to have occurred between September 2021 and February 2023.
Court documents allege that Egemasi’s role was to create fake U.S. government websites to steal login credentials, which were then used to divert public funds.
She also reportedly helped transfer stolen money into accounts controlled by the syndicate.