Air Peace CEO, Onyema charged with $44 million fraud in Atlanta

The CEO and founder of Air Peace in Nigeria, Allen Onyema, has been charged in a superseding indictment with obstruction of justice for submitting false documents to government of the United States.

In the charge, federal prosecutors said Onyema, 61, used his airline company as a cover to commit fraud in the United States.

While he was being investigated, prosecutors also hinted that Onyema committed more fraud to throw off the investigation.

According to prosecutors, the crime was said to have happened between 2010 and 2018 in Atlanta, United States.

Onyema allegedly pumped $44.9 million into his Atlanta bank accounts while he was in Atlanta.

“After allegedly using his airline company as a cover to commit fraud on the United States’ banking system, Onyema, along with his co-defendant, allegedly committed additional crimes of fraud in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation of his conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The diligence of our federal investigative partners revealed the defendants’ alleged obstruction scheme, making it possible for the defendants to be held accountable for their aggravated conduct of attempting to impede a federal investigation.”

“These cases represent the continued commitment of the Drug Enforcement Administration to identify and hold accountable those who engaged in fraud and money laundering,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

“Allegedly, Onyema and his accomplices fraudulently used the U.S. banking system in an effort to hide the source of their ill-gotten money,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. “Today’s superseding indictment is indicative of the dedication IRS-CI special agents and our law enforcement partners have, as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, to neutralize threats to the United States from criminal organizations.”

“The charges announced today demonstrate the criticality of diligence and truth in criminal justice proceedings,” said Steven N. Schrank, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and our partners are committed to pursuing those who seek to exploit our nation’s financial system and any efforts to cover up illegal activity,” the charge reads.