Witness: How fake U.S. engineer duped me $183,000

The trial of Wawe Eseoghene Nelson, popularly known as James Andrew Shmit and Philip Bradley, before Justice Aliyu Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja commenced on Friday, March 14, 2025, with the presentation of the First Prosecution Witness, Kathleen Sharp, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Nelson, arraigned on February 11, is facing prosecution by the EFCC on 11 count-charges bordering on advance fee fraud, impersonation, conspiracy, and obtaining under false pretence to the tune of $968,000, allegedly obtained from two US victims, Sharp and Holly Stamm.

Count one of his charge read:  “That you, Wawe Esoghene Nelson (a.k.a James Andrew Smith) sometime in 2023 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $155,000 from one Kathleen Sharp, living in the United States of America with Telephone Number +13025983826 through Chase Bank with account name Pearl and Allison Llc, account number 952177670, Routing 021000021, account address 35 Knollwood Dr Aptos CA 95003 with bank address at 1990 41st Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010 under the false pretence that you are James Andrew Smith, a Petroleum Engineer from United States of America that is into engineering project, relating to petroleum project which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him, prompting his trial.

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Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, the witness narrated how the defendant lured her via social media into sending him money in the guise of financing a project and would repay her when the project yielded dividends upon completion.

Sharp said: “I was contacted by the Commission that they discovered that I was defrauded by one James Andrew Shmit via social media platform. We communicated over social media where he presented himself as an engineer working at BP Oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

“He started by asking for funds because he did not have access to his personal funds and the credit situation in connection with the project required a large amount of funds with the promise that it will be returned and he will avail the funds to me. The total funds are $183,000 through three instalments. One by wired certificate cheque, two instalments by wired transfer.

“The first one was for $45,500, the second one was $131,000, and the third was $7,000. I have not been paid my money. After the third instalment, he pushed me to pay another $10,000 but I did not pay. There was a picture on his profile, he has brown hair and white. I will like the refund of the investment and funds, and he should be persecuted for his actions.”

Justice Halilu, thereafter, adjourned to April 16, 2025, for the cross-examination of the witness.

The Star