Lagos Court Sentences Ramirez to Multiple Terms for Fraud and Stealing
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has sentenced American businessman Marco Antonio Ramirez to multiple prison terms for his involvement in a $1.2 million EB-5 visa scam. Ramirez, who was also convicted of a separate $368,698.24 fraud, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his companies USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP.
Ramirez was found guilty of obtaining $1,235,000 from various victims, promising them eligibility for a U.S. Green Card under the EB-5 Investor Program in exchange for their investment in his companies. However, he failed to fulfill these promises. Initially arraigned on a 12-count charge, he was later re-arraigned in June 2022 on an amended 16-count charge.
The charges against Ramirez included counts of obtaining money under false pretenses and stealing, with substantial sums of money dishonorably converted for his personal use. Some of the key charges involved the illegal conversion of $545,000 belonging to one Godson Onyemaechi Echegile and $314,800 from Abubakar Umar Sadiq.
After several adjournments, Justice Dada ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Ramirez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for each of the 12 counts related to obtaining money by false pretenses and an additional 10 years each for counts 13 to 16 related to stealing.
In a separate case, Ramirez faced additional charges for defrauding victims of $368,698.24. This included $250,000 obtained from Gabriel Ogie Edeoghon under the false promise of qualifying him for a U.S. Green Card through an investment in Ramirez’s company. Another victim, Oludare Talabi, lost $50,281.33 after being falsely promised an L1 visa.
Justice Dada again found Ramirez guilty, sentencing him to eight years each for counts one to six and 10 years each for counts seven and eight.
The trial experienced multiple delays due to the defense counsel’s absence and failure to file final written addresses in a timely manner. Despite these challenges, the case proceeded, and judgment was delivered on September 10, 2024.
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