Chinedu Ekuma, a 45-year-old resident of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in federal court. The plea was entered before United States District Judge John M. Gallagher, according to an announcement by United States Attorney David Metcalf.
Ekuma admitted that from August 2020 through March 2023, he orchestrated a scheme that defrauded individuals and businesses of nearly $2 million. The victims believed they were making legitimate payments for personal or business reasons but were instead directed to bank accounts controlled by Ekuma.
He operated two entities, Intelaris Solutions, LLC and Verge Capital, opening several bank accounts under these names. According to court documents and the defendant’s admission, Ekuma and others misled victims into sending payments to these accounts by falsely claiming they were associated with the intended recipients. In reality, neither Intelaris Solutions nor Verge Capital had any legitimate connection to the victims.
The scheme involved creating fraudulent documentation to support the false claims that these entities were entitled to receive payments. Once funds were deposited into the accounts, Ekuma transferred most of the money to co-conspirators while keeping some for himself.
In total, more than $1.75 million was received in the fraudulent accounts, with attempts made to obtain over $650,000 more from additional victims.
Ekuma is scheduled for sentencing on March 12 and could face up to 40 years in prison if given the maximum penalty.
The investigation was conducted by FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Francis Weber is prosecuting the case.
