A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, adjourned till September 10, 2024, judgment in the alleged $1.2million US visa scam involving an American businessman, Marco Antonio Ramirez.
Trial judge in the matter is Justice Mojisola Dada.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Ramirez alongside his companies, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, for an alleged $1.2 million EB-5 visa scam.
The defendant allegedly obtained the money from his victims as processing fees for their investments in his company, USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, in the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) United States of America Investor Programme, which would qualify them to be eligible for the issuance of USA Green Card.
The defendant, however, allegedly reneged on his promise.
He was initially arraigned on a 12-count charge, to which he pleaded “not guilty.”
He was also re-arraigned by the EFCC on June 24, 2022, on an amended 16-count charge.
One of the amended charge reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between February 5, 2013, and April 18, 2013, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $545,000 property of Godson Onyemaechi Echegile.”
READ ALSO: We’re united for development of S-South region – Gov Oborevwori
Another count reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between July 12, 2012, and November 17, 2012, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court , dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $314,800 property of Abubakar Umar Sadiq.”
Also, at Monday’s sitting, the trial judge adjourned till September 10, 2024, for judgment in separate amended nine-count charge bordering on an alleged $368,698.24 fraud brought against the defendant.
One of the counts reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, on or about the 26th day of July, 2013 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $250,000 from Gabriel Ogie Edeoghon under the false representation that the sum was his investment in your company: USA NOW Energy Capital Group LP in the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) United States of America Investor Programme, which investment would qualify him to be eligible to a USA Green Card, and which representation you knew to be false.”
The proceedings had suffered several adjournments occasioned by the absence of the defence counsel, Lawal Pedro, SAN, and the inability of the defence to file its own final written addresses, even after the prosecution counsel, M.S. Owede and S.O. Daji, had filed theirs for the separate charges, respectively.
The adoption of the final written addresses eventually held on May 8, 2024, following the adoption, Justice Dada on Wednesday adjourned till September 10, 2024, for judgment.
