The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has sentenced an American businessman, Marco Ramirez, to 10 years imprisonment. Ramirez was convicted in dual cases of fraud and theft.
According to reports, one of the case concerns 16 counts of visa fraud involving as much as $1.2 million. The other involves 8 counts of theft of more than $360,000. Nigerians are the crime victims in both cases.
Delivering judgements on Tuesday, the trial judge, Mojisola Dada, found the American guilty of all the counts of fraud and theft. The case was brought against the American by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Dada preferred the case against the American businessman by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in both cases.
According to statement by the EFCC on Wednesday, the court sentenced Ramirez to 10 years’ imprisonment. This is with regards to each of the Counts 1 to 12, which is based on obtaining by false pretence in the fraud case.
“The judge also sentenced Ramirez to 10 years in jail on each of Counts 13 to 16.
The Judge also found the American businessman guilty of all eight counts of $368,698.24 theft in the second case.
“In this case, the judge sentenced him to eight years imprisonment on each of Counts 1 to 6. And 10 years in jail on each of Counts 7 to 8.
“Since the sentences will run concurrently, the convict will spend 10 years in jail,” the report stated.
Stating the case, EFCC, alleged that at various times in 2013, Ramirez obtained a total of $1,235,000 from his victims as processing fees for their investments in his company, USA Now Energy Capital Group LP. This is to qualify them for US Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) Investor Programme visa.
“The programme would have qualified the victims to be eligible for the issuance of US Green Cards,” EFCC said.
Ramirez was prosecuted alongside his companies, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, by EFCC.
“The businessman was initially arraigned on 12 counts, which he pleaded “not guilty”.
“The EFCC later re-arraigned him on June 24, 2022 following an amendment to the charges, increasing the counts to 16.
“During the trial, the prosecution, led by M. S. Owede, tendered several documentary pieces. He also called witnesses to substantiate the allegations against Ramirez.
“The trial was said to have suffered a protracted delay, leading to several adjournments. This was due to the absence of the defence counsel, Lawal Pedro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The defence was also said to have delayed filing their final written addresses in good time.
“The parties to the case eventually adopted their final written addresses on 8 May.
“The judge then adjourned till Tuesday for judgement.
In her judgements on Tuesday, Dada held that the prosecution proved its case against Ramirez beyond reasonable doubt.
One of the counts read, “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between 19 February 2013 and 18 April 2013 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $230,000 property of Abubakar Umar Sadiq,” one of the counts reads.
The prosecution also accused the defendant of converting to his personal the sum of $314,800 property of Abubakar Sadiq between July 12, 2012 and November7, 2012.
The EFCC also accused him of converting one Sadiq’s $230,000 property to his personal use a year later.
EFCC also alleged that between February 5 and April 18, 2013, Ramirez converted $545,000 of Godson Onyemaechi Echegile’s property to his personal use in Lagos.
source: Premium Times
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