The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured a conviction on Monday, November 20, sentencing Jesse Kassah, also known as Devaun Smith Wayne, to two years in prison. Kassah, who impersonated a US military man and ticket salesman on Facebook, defrauding victims, pleaded guilty to the one-count charge.
Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court delivered the verdict. Kassah's plea prompted the judge to impose a two-year imprisonment with a fine option of N150,000.00 and ordered the forfeiture of the Samsung Galaxy A02 phone used in the offense to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The EFCC disclosed this information via a late Monday tweet on X (formerly Twitter).
The statement read, “That you, Jesse Joshua Kassah (a.k.a Devaun Smith Wayne), (M) between January to October 2023 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence, to wit; falsely presented yourself as Devaun Smith Wayne; a USA military personnel and ticket salesman on Facebook (an online social media application) to one Caitlin Morgan and which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017”.
He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Given his plea, prosecution counsel, M. Arumemi, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
The judge “convicted and sentenced Kassah to two years imprisonment with an option of N150,000.00 fine.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the Samsung Galaxy A02 phone which was used to commit the offence to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The statement added, “Kassah’s
journey to the Correctional Centre started when he was arrested in the Karji
area of Kaduna for internet-related offences.”
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