An Instagram influencer has been sentenced to 7 years in prison in the USA for wire fraud and money laundering. Claiming to be a crypto millionaire, Jebara Igbara leveraged his fame on social networks to promote crypto scams that netted him nearly $8 million. The 28-year-old influencer specifically targeted Muslims.
Instagram influencer sentenced to 7 years in the USA
It’s getting harder and harder to scam via crypto and evade law enforcement officers. The Instagram influencer Jebara Igbara also known as “Jay Mazini“ learned this the hard way. Indeed, U.S. District Judge Frederic Block a convicted Jebara Igbara to seven years in prison. The court also required the influencer to forfeit his $10 million after being convicted of wire fraud and money laundering.
According to the American justice system, Jebara Igbara notably scammed more than $8 million between 2019 and 2021. The convict notably presented himself as a crypto millionaire and promised a better return on investment to his followers who invest in his company Halal-Capital LLC. Followers who took the bait never saw their money again. Worse still, he makes videos in which he offers money to strangers in the street and pays for groceries to the neediest.
When things started to get complicated, Jebara Igbara sent investors falsified images of bank transfer confirmations, claiming to have returned the money. In reality, no payment had been made and Igbara pocketed $8 million, financing his lavish lifestyle.
Fame and religion on socials to win over victims
To succeed in his fraudulent scheme, the major asset of Jebara Igbara was his popularity on Instagram. However, Jebara Igbara relied on another great asset to gain the trust of victims.
He emphasized that he was a good Muslim, and insisted on the religious aspect of his initiative. This justifies the fact that his victims are essentially members of New York’s Muslim community. This isn’t the first time a crypto scammer has tapped into the religious fiber to legitimize himself. Last January, a church pastor had sold a crypto scam to his congregation in Colorado.
Jebara Igbara’s conviction is excellent news for the crypto industry. Rogue actors like him have always tarnished the image of the crypto sector, leading to unjustified restrictions from state regulators. Those wishing to get fraudulently rich in crypto should think twice before taking the plunge.
I dream of a world where every citizen has total control over themselves, including their finances. I believe that Bitcoin is one of the tools that will achieve this revolution. Since 2019, I am learning about this cryptocurrency and spreading the word around.
