A State High Court in Kaduna, Kaduna State presided over by Justice Darius Khobo has convicted and sentenced a fake American soldier to two years imprisonment.
The State’s Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or EFCC, on Monday, November 20, 2023, secured the conviction and sentencing of Jesse Joshua Kassah.
The accused was sent to prison after pleading guilty to a one-count charge bordering on impersonation.
The charge reads: “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 pretence 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.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel M. Arumemi urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant.
Justice Khobo thereafter convicted and sentenced Kassah to two years imprisonment with an option of one hundred and fifty thousand (N150,000.00) Naira fine.
The Judge also ordered the forfeiture of a Samsung Galaxy A02 phone, which was used to commit the offence to the Federal Government of Nigeria
Kassah’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when he was arrested in the Karji area of Kaduna for internet-related offences. Investigations reviewed that he impersonated an American soldier, Devaun Smith Wayne, and used his identity to defraud his victims in the process.
A State High Court in Kaduna, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, has sentenced Jesse Joshua Kassah to two years imprisonment for impersonation. Kassah, who posed as an American soldier named Devaun Smith Wayne, was convicted following his guilty plea to a one-count charge of impersonation between January and October 2023. The prosecution, led by counsel M. Arumemi, urged the court for conviction after he admitted to the offence. Justice Khobo sentenced him with an option to pay a fine of N150,000. Additionally, the judge ordered the forfeiture of the Samsung Galaxy A02 used in the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Kassah was arrested for internet-related offences in the Karji area of Kaduna.
