Nigerian tech entrepreneur Sapphire Egemasi, widely known as the ‘Tech Queen,’ is facing up to 20 years in prison in the United States following her arrest for alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar cyber fraud scheme.
Egemasi, a programmer with a strong online presence, was apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Bronx, New York, on April 10, 2025, alongside other co-conspirators, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei. The arrests stem from a federal grand jury indictment charging the suspects with internet fraud and money laundering, linked to crimes committed between September 2021 and February 2023.
According to court documents, Egemasi played a key role in the syndicate’s operations, allegedly designing spoof websites impersonating U.S. government institutions to steal login credentials and facilitate fraudulent transactions. Investigators claim that the group defrauded the city of Kentucky of millions of dollars, with stolen funds rerouted to private accounts through wire transfers.
Before her arrest, Egemasi was reportedly based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, though authorities believe she previously lived in Ghana, where she established ties with her co-conspirators. She allegedly concealed the origins of her wealth by claiming internships at multinational corporations such as British Petroleum, H&M, and Zara.
Egemasi, known for flaunting a luxurious lifestyle on social media, frequently shared images of lavish vacations to destinations like Greece and Portugal. Prosecutors argue that these trips were funded through illicit proceeds.