Nigerian Programmer “Tech Queen” Sapphire Egemasi Faces Over 20 Years in Prison for Multimillion-Dollar U.S. Fraud Scheme

Sapphire Egemasi, a Nigerian programmer popularly known online as a “tech queen,” is facing up to 20 years in prison following her arrest by the FBI in April 2025. She is accused of playing a key role in a sophisticated fraud ring that allegedly siphoned millions of dollars from U.S. government agencies.

Egemasi was apprehended in the Bronx, New York, alongside several other suspects, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the scheme.

According to a federal indictment, the crimes occurred between September 2021 and February 2023 and involve charges of internet fraud and money laundering. Court documents allege that Egemasi was responsible for creating fake U.S. government websites to harvest login credentials. These credentials were then used to divert public funds into accounts controlled by the syndicate.

In one instance, the group reportedly rerouted $965,000 and $330,000—both from the city of Kentucky—into accounts at PNC Bank and Bank of America in 2022.

Investigators say Egemasi met her co-conspirators in Ghana years ago and later emerged as the syndicate’s technical expert, operating from various locations in the U.S. and Nigeria. To disguise the origin of her income, she allegedly claimed to have interned at prominent companies such as BP, H&M, and Zara.

Despite her criminal activities, Egemasi maintained a high-profile online persona, sharing photos from lavish trips to destinations like Greece and Portugal, portraying a successful career in tech.

She and her co-defendants are currently being held in Lexington, Kentucky, awaiting trial. If convicted, they face significant prison time, hefty fines, and potential deportation.