Two Convicted in Gwinnett County for Cyber Fraud Schemes Targeting GDOT and Private Citizen

ATLANTA, GA - The State of Georgia - Office of State Inspector General announced today that Ugochinyere Anazodo, 46, of Gwinnett County, Georgia and Dominique Beaulieu, 45, of Windermere, Florida, have been convicted and sentenced in Gwinnett County Superior Court, Georgia of participating in a criminal enterprise with the purpose of obtaining and laundering the stolen proceeds of multiple cyber fraud schemes. Specifically, the defendants engaged in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme targeting the Georgia Department of Transportation which resulted in an initial loss to the State of approximately $1.3 million. With OIG's assistance, approximately $440,000 was recovered by the Georgia Department of Transportation shortly after the scheme was discovered. Anazodo was also convicted for his involvement in a romance scam targeting a private Georgia citizen, defrauding the victim of over $300,000.

Anazodo was found guilty of two counts of Racketeering, one count of Theft by Taking, and one count of Money Laundering on Aug. 29, 2024, following a nine-day jury trial in Gwinnett County. He was sentenced on Sep. 9, 2024, to 20 years, the first 10 to be served in prison, and was ordered to pay $1,174,928.79 in restitution to the victims. Beaulieu pleaded guilty to two counts of Racketeering prior to trial. He was sentenced to five years, the first two to be served in prison, and was ordered to pay restitution.

OIG investigated the BEC portion of the case with the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) , while the GBI investigated the romance scam. The State of Georgia - Office of the Attorney General prosecuted the case.

"The Georgia Office of the State Inspector General is committed to investigating acts of fraud against the State of Georgia and our taxpayers. This result holds the perpetrators of fraud accountable and stands as an example of the consequences to those who would seek to defraud our State and our citizens. Our office will continue to work diligently to protect the Georgia taxpayer from fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption from both internal and external actors."

"Cyber fraud has become an increasing problem," said GBI Director Chris Hosey. "With the advancement of technology, criminals are finding more ways to steal hardworking Georgians' assets. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that these defendants are brought to justice."

"We're working each day to put a stop to the cyber criminals who are targeting Georgians and stealing their hard-earned dollars, and our efforts have proven successful," said Attorney General Chris Carr. "This case is yet another example of our commitment to addressing the real and evolving threat of cyber fraud, so we can help to protect Georgia businesses and consumers alike. With our White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, we will continue to use all available resources to disrupt these criminal operations and seek justice for those who have fallen victim."

In part, this case was referred to the Office of the Attorney General by the Georgia Cyber Fraud Task Force following a victim report submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

"In today's digital world, online scams are countless, so the FBI encourages you to remain vigilant whenever you're banking, shopping, or looking for a relationship online," said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "This conviction demonstrates our commitment to investigate complex cyber investigations and work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to ensure Georgia residents are protected."