American Businessman Sentenced to 74 Years for $1.2 Million Visa Fraud in Lagos Court

On Tuesday, September 10, the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja sentenced American businessman Marco Antonio Ramirez to 74 years in prison for defrauding victims of $1.2 million through an EB-5 visa scheme, along with an additional fraud amounting to $368,698.24. The sentencing was delivered by Judge Mojisola Dada, who found Ramirez guilty on multiple combined counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Judge Dada ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Ramirez received eight years for each of the first six counts, and ten years for each of the seventh and eighth offenses. For a second charge, he was sentenced to ten years for each of counts 1 through 12, related to obtaining money under false pretenses, and another ten years for each of counts 13 through 16, linked to theft.

According to the EFCC, Ramirez and his companies, including USA Now LLC, Eagle Ford Investment Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, received the funds from victims by falsely promising access to the U.S. Investor Program, which would have provided them with permanent residency and a Green Card. Instead of fulfilling these promises, Ramirez used the funds for personal gain.

The fraudulent activities reportedly took place in Lagos between February 5, 2013, and April 18, 2013. Judge Dada noted, “The convict dishonestly converted the money meant for investments to his personal use. The prosecution has successfully proved that the promises made to the victims were false, and the funds obtained were under fraudulent pretenses.”

One of the victims, Godson Echegile, reportedly lost $545,000 to Ramirez, believing it was a processing fee for his investment that would qualify him for an EB-5 visa and U.S. Green Card. Ramirez initially pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of fraud but was re-arrested and charged with 16 counts in June 2022 when the EFCC amended the charges.

On Tuesday, September 10, Judge Dada found Ramirez guilty on counts involving obtaining money by false pretenses and theft. Additionally, Ramirez faced a separate nine-count indictment for fraud amounting to $368,698.24.

In a related case from July 26, 2013, Ramirez was convicted of defrauding Gabriel Ogie Edeoghon of $250,000 by falsely claiming the funds were for an investment in USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, which would qualify Edeoghon for an EB-5 visa. Ramirez received additional sentences of eight years for counts one through six and ten years for counts seven and eight related to this particular fraud.