Love Scam: Man jailed six months for deceiving his American ‘client” to send him $100 after pretending to be in a relationship with her

Mesheal Luka, a Nigerian man, was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday, October 20, following his conviction on a two-count amended charge of cybercrime and other internet-related fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Kaduna Zonal Command.

The defendant pretended to be an American citizen in order to entice his victims into sending him money while pretending to be in a romantic relationship with them.

Count one of the charge reads: |”that you, Mesheal Luka, (M) between January and August, 2021 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did pretend to be one Mesheal ( a woman) based in America when you knew you were not and in such assumed character cheated one Samuel of the sum of $100(One Hundred USD) when you claimed that you were in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.

The second count amended charge reads: that you, Mesheal Luka, (M) between January and August, 2021 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did pretend to be one Jessica (a woman) based in America when you knew you were not and in such assumed character cheated one James Partridge of the sum of €30.00(Thirty Euros), when you claimed that you were in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.

When the amended charges were read to him, he pleaded guilty.

In light of his guilty plea, M.A Jamil, the prosecution’s counsel, urged the court to convict him using the terms of a plea bargain agreement between the parties as the court’s judgment.

However, the defendant’s defense counsel, Usman Idris, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy because the defendant has expressed remorse and promised never to commit another criminal act.

As a result, Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced the defendant to six months in prison and ordered him to repay $50.00 (fifty dollars) to his victims, Samuel and James Partridge, both American citizens, via the United States Embassy in Nigeria.

The defendant must also surrender one Infinix smart 5 phone and N48,720.89 to the Federal Government.

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