Mercy Abire, a 28-year-old long jumper and student at Louisiana State University, is facing a potential maximum jail term of 20 years in the United States.

Abire, along with two other Nigerians, including former men’s 100m national champion, Raymond Ekevwo and Aniekeme Etim, were indicted for wire and mail fraud in the US.

The indictment was a result of an investigation into a complex fraud scheme involving financial transfers to Nigeria.

Two other individuals, Toluwani Adebakin and Emmanuel Ineh, were convicted in connection with the same scheme.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, Mercy Abire transferred over $100,000 to co-conspirators through her U.S. bank account between November 2018 and April 2019.

Abire has already pleaded guilty to the charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30.

The maximum jail term she could face is 20 years.

“A Nigerian citizen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“According to court documents and information presented to the Court, between 2018 and 2022, Uyoyo Mercy Abire, 28, and her co-conspirators used online romance scams, online charity scams, and other types of fraud to defraud victims of their money.

The money received as a result of these scams was then transferred between the conspirators, and ultimately, much of the money was transferred overseas.

Between November 2018 and April of 2019, Abire herself transferred over $100,000.00 to co-conspirators through her U.S. bank account.

“Abire is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2023. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“The FBI investigated the case.

“Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Eichner originally prosecuted the case, and it is currently being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner,” the statement read.