Lagos court sentences American businessman Marco Ramirez to 68 years in prison for $1.6 million visa fraud

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offenders Court serving in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, convicted an American businessman, Marco Antonio Ramirez, of a $1.2 million EB-5 visa fraud.

The judge also convicted him of a separate fraud of $368,698.24.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Ramirez along with his companies, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, with alleged $1,235,000 EB-5 visa fraud.

The defendant allegedly obtained money from his victims as processing fees for their investments in his company, USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, under the United States Investor Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) Program, which would make them eligible for the issuance of USA Green Cards.

However, the defendant allegedly broke his promise.

He was initially indicted on 12 counts, and he pleaded “not guilty.”

He was also re-arrested by the EFCC on June 24, 2022 on an amended 16-count charge.

The 13th amended count reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between the 5th day of February 2013 and the 18th day of April 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, dishonorably diverted for your personal use the aggregate sum of $545,000 belonging to Godson Onyemaechi Echegile.”

Count 14 reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between July 12, 2012 and November 7, 2012 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, dishonorably diverted for your personal use the aggregate sum of $314,800 belonging to Abubakar Umar Sadiq.”

Count 15 reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between February 19, 2013 and April 18, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, dishonorably diverted for your personal use the aggregate sum of $230,000 belonging to Abubakar Umar Sadiq.”

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Prosecutor’s counsel, MS Owede, presented a number of documentary evidences and called witnesses to substantiate the charges against him.

Ramirez was also taken to court to defend himself on fraud charges.

During the trial, he obtained the services of Lawal Pedro, SAN.

However, the matter experienced some delays at the stage of adopting the final written statement.

The adoption finally took place on May 8, 2024.

Next, Judge Dada postponed the trial until Friday, September 10, 2024 to read out the verdict.

At a follow-up hearing, Judge Dada ruled that prosecutors proved their case against Ramirez beyond a reasonable doubt.

He was subsequently found guilty as charged and sentenced to 10 years in prison each on counts 1 through 12 bordering on obtaining by false pretenses, and 10 years in prison each on counts 13 through 16 bordering on theft.

Justice Dada also found Ramirez guilty of nine separate amended charges related to the alleged fraud of $368,698.24 filed against him by the EFCC.

One of the charges reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, on or about July 26, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained from Gabriel Ogie Edeoghon the sum of $250,000 by falsely representing that the money was his investment in your company: USA NOW Energy Capital Group LP under the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) United States of America Investor Program, which investment would qualify him for a USA Green Card, and which representation you knew to be false.”

The other charge reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, on or about the 5th day of March, 2014 at Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained from Oludare Talabi the sum of $50,281.33, falsely representing that the money was for his United States L1 VISA program, which representation you knew to be false.”

He also pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

Legal counsel, SO Daji, also submitted a number of documentary evidences against him and called witnesses to give testimony against him.

The trial process also experienced several delays caused by the absence of counsel for the accused, Lawal Pedro, SAN, and the inability of the defence to file his own written statement in time, even after counsel for the prosecution, MS Owede and SO Daji, had filed their respective written statements for separate charges.

Following the adoption on May 8, 2024, Judge Dada also postponed the hearing until Tuesday for the verdict.

In delivering his verdict, Judge Dada stated that the prosecution proved its case against Ramirez beyond a reasonable doubt.

As a result, Judge Dada sentenced them to eight years each for counts one to six and 10 years each for counts seven to eight.

Lagos court jails 68-year-old American businessman Marco Ramirez for $1.6 million visa fraud first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.