A Nigerian man, Kenneth Godwin, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States over an alleged conspiracy to embezzle funds from a casino owned by a Native American tribe in South Dakota.

According to a statement issued by the United States Department of Justice, Godwin was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and unauthorised access to a protected computer in furtherance of fraud.

The indictment alleged that the suspect, believed to be residing in Nigeria, conspired with others between May 2023 and March 2026 to steal funds from Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel, a business operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

US authorities said Godwin could face up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and restitution if convicted.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the case involved an international business email compromise scheme that allegedly caused significant financial losses.

FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge, Christopher Dotson said the agency would continue working with partners to pursue fraud suspects regardless of their location.

The investigation is being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, while Assistant US Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.

The DOJ noted that the charges remain allegations and that Godwin is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.