NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – A Nigerian man has been arrested for scamming an elderly Louisiana resident out of $9,000.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry released a statement today about the arrest of Chigozie Valentine Agu, 47, who faces charges of felony theft in excess of $5,000, bank fraud, money laundering, and racketeering.
“Our office is on the front lines investigating, arresting, and educating to help stop the awful occurrence of seniors being targeted and preyed upon by scammers,” Landry said in the statement. “We want to help Louisiana’s people avoid falling victim to mortgage, contractor, charity and other types of frauds commonly perpetrated on senior citizens.”
Agu is accused of targeting a Vermillion Parish resident beginning in May 2016, when he allegedly told her he was a Department of Homeland Security official and found a piece of luggage containing money he would return to her for a fee.
The Metro Washington Airport Authority at Dulles Airport arrested Agu following an investigation by General Landry’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation as Agu re-entered the United States. He was extradited to Louisiana and booked into the Vermillion Parish Correctional Center.
“It is an absolutely despicable crime to take advantage of our elderly family, friends, and neighbors,” Landry said. “No matter the great lengths these shameless criminals take, my office will do all we can to get justice for their victims.”