The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged an American businessman, Marco Ramirez and his companies USA Now LLC and Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP for fraud.
The agency arraigned Marco on eight count charges bordering on collecting up to $2.3m through false pretences before Justice Peter Affren of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Monday, April 18.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren revealed that the complainants, Prince Ejikeme Mgbemena and Frank Egbon were said to have been falsely promised that their monies could be invested under the Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5).
The EFCC further revealed that the complainants were also promised to provide American Green Card for members of their families below 18 years.
The charges read in part: “That you Marco Anthonio Ramirez, being the Manager of Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC and you Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC on or about May 21, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained through an account titled Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP domiciled at Wells Fargo Bank USA the sum of $55,000 from one Ejikeme Mgbemena under the pretext of investing for him under the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) Regional Centre Programme with pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Marco pleaded not guilty to the charges and Justice Affen adjourned the case till May 21.
