Man sentenced in multi-state $2.76M investment fraud targeting immigrants
Published 2026-09-23 · County Crime Watch
A federal court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin sentenced Joseph James Nantomah on September 18, 2026, for running an investment fraud scheme that bilked investors across the United States and abroad, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Nantomah received a 48-month prison term and was ordered to pay $2,762,798.37 in restitution; he will serve three years of supervised release after incarceration.
According to the Department of Justice, court records show Nantomah cultivated an online persona calling himself “The Black Mentor,” hosted paid conferences and classes, and solicited investments in a purported real estate business. Prosecutors say that between May 2020 and December 2024 he stole $2,762,798.37 from at least 39 victims by promising returns and instead spent the funds on a lavish lifestyle and promotional expenses.
The DOJ statement says many victims were Nigerian immigrants and members of Nantomah’s church who were induced to invest through shared cultural ties and the promise of U.S. economic opportunity. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI; the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Investigations also participated, and the prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
The sentence and restitution order reflect the court’s assessment of the scope and duration of the fraud and the harm to primarily working-class immigrant victims, the Department of Justice reported.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice · Agency release: 2026-09-21. Original report by County Crime Watch.