Kenyan National Nicodemus Monyancha Charged by US in $500K Crypto Romance Scam

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially filed US crypto charges against Kenyan national Nicodemus Hingima Monyancha and five other individuals for their alleged roles in a massive cryptocurrency romance scam. 

The operation, which authorities say was orchestrated from a compound in Madagascar, used fake online dating profiles to steal more than half a million dollars from unsuspecting American victims.

Key Takeaways

• Nicodemus Monyancha faces charges for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
• The operation targeted approximately 800 victims using fake NFT websites.
• The DOJ Scam Center Strike Force led the international investigation.

The Madagascar Crypto Raid and Key Figures

The charges stem from a newly unsealed FBI affidavit detailing a criminal enterprise that operated from at least January 2025 until April 2026. According to investigators, Malaysian national Chui Kok Wa is identified as the alleged leader of the operation.

Alongside Nicodemus Monyancha, the other defendants include Gislen Neukeu, Shamusa Ninsiima, Clement Mugiraneza, and Merveille Mudacumura. 

The group is accused of running a sophisticated fraud network that relocated to Madagascar after law enforcement actions disrupted similar operations in Cambodia.

The Madagascar crypto raid in August 2026 saw FBI investigators travel to the country to examine approximately 3,200 electronic devices seized from thirteen suspected scam centers. 

Local authorities detained around 400 people, though several suspects were repatriated to China before US investigators could complete their interviews.

Read also: FBI Agent Patrick Yaroch Charged in $1M Crypto Theft

How the Crypto Romance Scam Operated

The scheme relied on carefully rehearsed deception. Conspirators posted attractive female profiles on US dating websites. Once contact was established, they moved conversations to messaging applications like WhatsApp to develop romantic relationships.

Eventually, the scammers introduced the prospect of investing in non fungible tokens. Victims were directed to fraudulent websites that mimicked legitimate NFT marketplaces. 

Once victims connected their cryptocurrency wallets, the scammers gained permission to access and transfer funds without the victims' knowledge or consent.

Investigators identified roughly seventy four cryptocurrency wallets associated with the scheme. The estimated total losses amount to at least $516,695 across approximately 800 victims. 

In one specific case, a Maryland victim lost nearly $12,000, with a subsequent deposit of over $9,000 vanishing in just thirty three minutes.

The Business of Exploitation

Evidence recovered from phones associated with Chui Kok Wa revealed that the operation functioned like a corporate business. Documents included employment contracts, salary records, and detailed scripts for manipulating victims.

One script described the method as an emotional scam, advising workers to use the client's feelings to secure investments. Another document provided a fabricated backstory about a husband suffering from leukemia to build trust. 

Employment contracts specified overnight shifts matching US time zones and offered commissions linked to successful thefts, alongside penalties for missed targets.

The investigation also uncovered difficult questions regarding human trafficking. Lawyers for twenty five African nationals detained in Madagascar claimed their clients were recruited through fake job advertisements and subjected to abuse. 

The FBI noted it could not substantiate these claims, citing factors potentially inconsistent with coercion, though they have obtained a warrant to interview fifteen potential witnesses who remain in custody.

Read also: SecondFi Shuts Down Permanently After $2.4M Cardano Wallet Hack

Expanding the Strike Force

This case highlights the DOJ Scam Center Strike Force's expanding global campaign. Established in November 2025, the task force unites federal prosecutors, the FBI, and the Secret Service to combat cryptocurrency fraud and transnational criminal organizations.

The initiative has already frozen more than one billion dollars in cryptocurrency and seized hundreds of fraudulent websites. The DOJ notes that reported US losses from crypto investment fraud rose from $4.57 billion in 2023 to $8.65 billion in 2025. 

Criminal groups increasingly attempt to obscure the movement of illicit proceeds through digital assets, presenting ongoing challenges for law enforcement similar to the complexities seen in tracking the Binance laundering case.

US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro has called on the Madagascar government to cooperate and extradite the six charged defendants to face justice in the United States.

FAQ

Who is Nicodemus Hingima Monyancha?

He is a Kenyan national charged by the US Department of Justice for his alleged involvement in a crypto romance scam operating out of Madagascar.

What is the DOJ Scam Center Strike Force?

It is a task force established in November 2025 to pursue cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, and trafficking connected to overseas scam compounds.

How did the scammers steal cryptocurrency?

They used fake dating profiles to build trust, directed victims to fraudulent NFT investment websites, and then drained their connected cryptocurrency wallets.

How much money was stolen?

Investigators identified at least $516,695 in losses across approximately 800 reported victims, though the actual total may be higher.

What is a Binance laundering case?

It refers to broader industry challenges where illicit funds are moved through exchanges or digital networks to obscure their origins, a tactic law enforcement actively monitors.

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