A Nigerian man, Kenneth Godwin, is facing the possibility of a 20-year prison sentence in the United States after being indicted over an alleged wire and computer fraud scheme involving a casino business in South Dakota.

The indictment was announced on Thursday by US District Attorney Ron Parsons, who disclosed that a federal grand jury filed charges against Godwin in March 2026.

According to Parsons, the charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and unauthorised access to a protected computer in furtherance of fraud.

Authorities alleged that between May 2023 and March 2026, Godwin—believed to have been living in Nigeria during the period—worked with others to divert funds from the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel located in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

In a statement, Parsons said the alleged scheme was carried out with the intention of enriching those involved.

He noted that the offences carry severe penalties, including up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, supervised release, and possible restitution if the accused is found guilty.

The US attorney, however, stressed that the charges remain allegations and that Godwin is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Parsons also praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, stating that the agency remains committed to tracking down individuals accused of defrauding businesses and citizens in the United States, regardless of where they are located.

Reacting to the development, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, Christopher Dotson, described the case as an example of an international business email compromise operation.

Dotson said the alleged fraud resulted in significant financial losses for a business owned and operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

He added that the indictment reflects the FBI’s continued efforts to disrupt criminal networks targeting businesses and communities across the United States and Indian Country.

The case comes shortly after three other Nigerians — William Elvis, Moses Hezekiah, and Destiny Oghentega — were charged in a US federal court in Rhode Island over their alleged roles in an online romance and wire fraud conspiracy.

According to a statement previously published on the US Department of Justice website, the trio were each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.