Rochester, N.Y. — A Georgia man who defrauded four people in Western New York has been sentenced to 33 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Thursday.
Stephen Odiboh, 53, and his co-conspirators worked together to steal $356,500 from the victims between 2023 and March 2025, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The release said Odiboh posed as “Oliver Wilson” on Facebook and “fostered a romantic, online relationship” with a 77-year-old woman while pretending to be a U.S. citizen and widower living in Norway.
Over the course of approximately a year and a half, “Wilson” fostered a romantic, online relationship, stating that he needed gift cards to “stay online” and continue talking. As a result, Victim 1 sent “Wilson” approximately 30 $500 gift cards, totaling approximately $15,000. In addition, between January and July of 2024, “Wilson” induced Victim 1 to mail eight checks totaling over $162,000.00 to specific individuals and entities, including two checks to Stephen Odiboh. In December 2024, “Wilson” stated that he was being held by customs authorities in Norway and needed to pay a fine of $158,000. He directed Victim 1 to mail two checks totaling $158,000.00 but Victim 1’s bank detected fraud and stopped payment of the checks before they could be cashed.
Co-conspirators used other methods in an attempt to scam three other people, according to the release. Odiboh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His sentence also requires him to pay $196,500 in restitution…