A Nigerian national and United States permanent resident, Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, has been declared wanted after failing to report to prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence for her role in a romance fraud scheme.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana confirmed that a federal arrest warrant was issued on April 14, 2026, following Hall’s failure to surrender as ordered.
The warrant was authorised by Donna Phillips Currault.
Hall had earlier been sentenced in January 2026 by Jane Triche Milazzo to 96 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering.
She was, however, allowed to remain on bond and instructed to report to a designated Bureau of Prisons facility by March 25, 2026, a directive she failed to comply with.
Authorities disclosed that data from her electronic monitoring device showed her last known location at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, 2026, before the signal stopped transmitting.
Although she had provided her probation officer with travel plans to Minnesota, airline records indicated she did not board the scheduled flight.
Related News:
EFCC Declares John Ekuma Wanted Over Fraud
US Court to Sentence Nigerian Over $5m Fraud-Linked Transfer
sMan Claims Niger Govt House Policeman Defrauded Him in Police Job Promise Scheme
Two Suspects Arrested in Kano for Alleged Fraud Activities
Police Invite Viral ‘Bread TikToker’ Over Alleged Cyberstalking, Fraud Claims
$91m Tax Fraud: US Seeks to Revoke Nigerian Convict’s Citizenship
Nigeria Ex-Acting Accountant-General Jailed 72 Years for N868M Fraud
Lagos Court Sentences Businessman to Seven Years Over N28m Investment Fraud
Instead, phone records suggested she may have travelled through Dulles International Airport.
Hall was initially indicted in April 2024 by a federal grand jury in New Orleans and later arrested in Atlanta, Georgia.
She was granted bail before eventually pleading guilty to participating in a romance scam that targeted mostly elderly women.
Court documents revealed that Hall and her co-defendant, Kenneth G. Akpieyi, posed as high-profile individuals such as military generals, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs.
They contacted victims through social media platforms before moving conversations to encrypted messaging services, where victims were persuaded to send money under false pretences, including medical emergencies and charitable causes.
Prosecutors said the duo operated through a company, Le Beau Monde LLC, which was used to receive and transfer funds obtained from victims.
Hall admitted responsibility for losses amounting to $851,207, while Akpieyi was linked to more than $3.5 million in fraudulent proceeds.
Akpieyi was convicted in July 2025 and sentenced to 25 years in prison and remains in federal custody.
Reacting to the development, David I. Courcelle stated that authorities would ensure Hall is apprehended, stressing that her failure to report to prison demonstrates a disregard for the law.
Officials further warned that, in addition to her current sentence, Hall faces up to 10 more years in prison if convicted for failing to report, along with possible fines and supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne.
About the Author
