FBI Seeks Asset Forfeiture in ₦460M Crypto Fraud Linked to Trump 2025 Event

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has filed a civil forfeiture complaint to seize assets belonging to Ehiremen Aigbokhan, a Lagos-based alleged fraudster accused of stealing over ₦460 million (approximately US $250,300) from a donor who believed the funds were destined for the Trump–Vance 2025 presidential inauguration.

According to recently unsealed U.S. court filings, Aigbokhan and unidentified co-conspirators orchestrated a sophisticated Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme. The fraudsters reportedly spoofed official email accounts linked to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. One critical email, sent on December 26, 2024, impersonated Steve Witkoff, a co-chair of the committee, using the deceptive domain @t47lnaugural.com—designed to closely resemble the legitimate @t47inaugural.com. This manipulation persuaded a victim to transfer 250,300 USDT.ETH, a cryptocurrency equivalent to more than ₦400 million at the time.

Once the funds were received, the conspirators swiftly dispersed approximately 215,000 USDT.ETH across numerous cryptocurrency wallets in an apparent attempt to conceal the stolen assets. Working in cooperation with Tether, the FBI froze the implicated accounts on December 31, 2024 to prevent further laundering of the illicit funds.

Digital forensic investigations traced the wallet activity and associated email access back to Lagos, Nigeria, ultimately identifying Aigbokhan as the primary suspect behind the operation.

The FBI has already seized two significant portions of cryptocurrency connected to the alleged fraud:

• 20,017 USDT.ETH from Aigbokhan’s personal crypto wallet

• 20,336 USDT.ETH from another wallet linked to the operation

Combined, these assets are valued at more than ₦60 million on the black market.

Authorities are now pursuing the complete legal forfeiture of these assets. Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been requested for Aigbokhan on charges including money laundering and cryptocurrency fraud. U.S. prosecutors have indicated their intention to apprehend Aigbokhan and any accomplices involved in the complex scheme.

This case underscores the growing threat posed by cryptocurrency-enabled BEC scams, particularly those targeting high-profile events and political organizations. Experts caution that as fraudsters adopt increasingly sophisticated tactics, donors and institutions must employ stringent cybersecurity measures and thoroughly verify communication channels before transferring large sums of money.

The FBI’s civil forfeiture action represents a significant move toward dismantling what officials describe as a highly organized crypto-fraud network operating out of Lagos, aimed at siphoning funds intended for a prominent U.S. political event.