Convicted Nigerian romance scammer on the run after failing to report to prison

A 46-year-old Nigerian woman, identified as Emuoboson Emmanuella Hall, is wanted by authorities in the United States after allegedly failing to report to prison to serve an eight-year sentence for her role in a romance scam.

According to a statement issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and sighted by GhanaWeb on October 30, 2026, Hall was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 23, 2026, for failing to report to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving her sentence.

The statement further detailed that Hall, a Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to 96 months in prison in January 2026. Although she was allowed to remain on bond, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo ordered her to report to her designated prison facility by March 25, 2026.

“According to a criminal complaint issued in this matter, HALL was indicted in April 2024 by a federal grand jury in New Orleans for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, and granted bond.

“HALL subsequently pleaded guilty. In January 2026, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced HALL to 96 months in prison. Judge Milazzo permitted HALL to remain on bond and ordered her to report to her designated Bureau of Prisons institution to serve her sentence by March 25, 2026,” the statement noted.

The document further detailed that Hall failed to report to her designated prison facility as directed after reportedly providing her probation officer with flight details for a trip to Minnesota, where she was expected to serve her sentence.

“According to GPS data from her monitoring device, HALL’s last known location was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, 2026, where the device ceased operating. HALL had provided her probation officer with her flight information to Minnesota, where she was designated to serve her sentence. According to airline records, HALL did not board that flight.”

Per the court document, Hall, together with another individual identified as Kenneth G. Akpieyi, defrauded their victims, mainly elderly women, through romance scams by posing as military generals, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs living outside the United States.

It added that they met their victims through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram before gaining their trust and moving conversations to WhatsApp and other encrypted messaging platforms.

$100 Million Romance Scam: Kofi Boat, Inusah Ahmed plead guilty to charges

Court documents further indicated that Hall and her co-defendant, Kenneth G. Akpieyi, established a company called Le Beau Monde LLC, which they used to facilitate the alleged romance scam.

Hall reportedly deposited money obtained from victims into accounts held in the company’s name before transferring the funds to other financial institutions, including foreign banks.

Meanwhile, Hall admitted responsibility for losses amounting to $851,207, while her co-conspirator was found responsible for defrauding victims of more than $3.5 million.

Akpieyi, who was convicted after a four-day jury trial in July 2025, was sentenced to 25 years in prison and is currently serving his sentence.

“If convicted, HALL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, to be served consecutively to her prior sentence. She may be fined up to $250,000, and she may receive a term of supervised release of up to three years. She must also pay a $100 mandatory assessment fee,” the statement added.

JHM/BAI

Guns and Drugs: Dr Adam Bonaa Warns of Growing Security Threat to Ghana