'Pig Butchering,' Romance Scams End In Charges For Edison Man: Feds

EDISON, NJ — An Edison resident was charged with laundering money obtained from a variety of internet-based scams, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Tuesday.

Kenny Osas Okuonghae, 35, was charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy. He is scheduled to appear before a judge in Newark federal court on Tuesday.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From 2019 through the present, Okuonghae laundered money obtained from various internet scams, including property rental scams, romance scams, and a “pig butchering” scam involving a purported cryptocurrency investment platform called “Alphacoin.”

“Pig butchering” refers to an internet scheme where a romance scam victim develops what the victim perceives to be a romantic relationship online with the perpetrator, Sellinger explained.

The perpetrator emotionally “fattens” the victim up before enticing them to invest in a fake cryptocurrency scheme and then, metaphorically, “slaughters” the victim by taking the money they placed in the fake cryptocurrency investment scheme.

Okuonghae opened several bank accounts in at least seven banks and permitted fraudulent proceeds to be deposited into these accounts, Sellinger said.

One of the scams from which Okuonghae received illegal proceeds was the Alphacoin scam. Another scam involved a deposit for a rental property that was not actually available to rent. Okuonghae told at least one bank that the money was coming from a legitimate customer who wished to buy car parts from him, according to court documents. He also circulated at least one false invoice made out to a victim for the purchase of a Mack truck, authorities said.

Okuonghae laundered at least $2.1 million through his accounts, according to court documents.

The money laundering conspiracy charges carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the funds involved in the transfer, whichever is greater.

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