A Nigerian man identified as Kenneth Godwin has been indicted in the United States over an alleged wire fraud case connected to a casino in South Dakota.
According to the US Department of Justice, a federal grand jury returned charges against Godwin, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and unauthorized access to a protected computer system.
Investigators believe the suspect is currently residing in Nigeria while the case continues in the United States.
Authorities said the alleged fraud took place between May 2023 and March 2026 and was directed at Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel, which is owned by the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.
If found guilty, Godwin could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, supervised release, and possible restitution payments.
An FBI official, Christopher Dotson, said the case involved an international business email compromise scheme that caused significant financial losses to the tribal-owned business.
He noted that the operation had a serious impact on the casino and hotel run by the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Another official, Parsons, said the FBI would continue to pursue suspects involved in financial crimes regardless of where they are located in the world.
He added that the bureau remains committed to tracking down individuals accused of defrauding people and businesses in the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is currently leading the investigation, while Assistant US Attorney Ben Patterson is in charge of the prosecution.
Authorities also emphasized that the indictment is only an allegation at this stage, and Kenneth Godwin is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.