Martins Friday Inalegwu, a Nigerian man, and Steincy Mathieu, his American wife, have been charged in New Jersey, the United States, for scams of over N2.1 billion ($6 million).

The two were charged on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud with other conspirators, several of whom reside in Nigeria.

31-year-old Inalegwu left Nigeria for the U.S. in 2015 and married 24-year-old Mathieu in 2016, a union that has produced two children.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said the couple and other conspirators met victims on online dating sites and social media websites, corresponded with them via email and phone, and pretended to strike up romantic relationships with them.

They would then request victims to send money to them for fictitious emergency needs.

The accused also allegedly engaged in apartment rental scams with at least three of the 33 victims that have been identified.

Victims wired money to U.S. bank accounts held by Inalegwu and Mathieu, with $3.1 million directly linked to the couple.

They allegedly spent the proceeds on personal expenses, withdrew some in cash, transferred some to other bank accounts they personally controlled, and also transferred to bank accounts held by conspirators in Nigeria and Turkey.

Some victims also transferred money to the conspirators via money transfer services, such as Western Union or MoneyGram, and others wired money to bank accounts held by conspirators overseas.

Inalegwu, who got permanent U.S. resident status in 2018, was arrested on Tuesday and made his first appearance by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio.

His wife is currently at large.

The count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.