Nigerian tech enthusiast Sapphire Egemasi, known online as the “tech queen,” has been arrested by the FBI for her alleged role in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme targeting U.S. government agencies. Egemasi, a programmer with a strong online presence, was arrested in April 2025 in the Bronx, New York, alongside Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei and others.
Prosecutors say the group created fake U.S. government websites to steal credentials and reroute public funds. Egemasi allegedly led the technical operations, building spoof sites and coordinating wire transfers, including nearly $1.3 million redirected in August 2022 alone.
Though she claimed professional experience with top global firms, prosecutors say her luxurious lifestyle was funded through illicit means.
She is now in federal custody in Kentucky, facing charges of internet fraud and money laundering. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison and possible deportation.
