A Kenyan national living in Lincoln, Nebraska, is facing a serious felony charge after authorities alleged he ran a scheme that used stolen personal information to fraudulently register unsuspecting people in online colleges and claim their financial aid.
Francis Smith Mogambi has been charged with second-degree forgery, a Class 2A felony under Nebraska law.
Police say they opened the investigation after receiving a tip that Mogambi was in possession of checks issued to individuals who had allegedly been enrolled in online degree programmes without their knowledge or consent.
How the Alleged Scheme Worked
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators believe Mogambi coordinated with relatives based in Kenya to gather the personal data of American citizens.
That information was then allegedly used to register victims at online colleges and secure federal student loans in their names. Authorities claim a portion of the money derived from the scheme was subsequently transferred to Kenya.
The names of several educational institutions featured in the investigation, among them Grand Canyon University, Colorado Technical University and American Public University. Officers who reviewed the associated checks noted that multiple endorsements appeared to share similar handwriting and signatures, with several made out to Mogambi directly.
The human cost of the alleged fraud became clear through at least one victim’s account.
A Wisconsin resident told police he had discovered an unauthorised student loan on his credit report and confirmed he had never registered at the college attached to that loan.
Recruitment Attempt and Financial Scope
The alleged operation may have been broader than one man acting alone. A witness told police that Mogambi approached him and offered $2,000 (KSh 259,700) per week to join the scheme, suggesting an attempt to grow the network.
Investigators estimate that roughly $20,397 (KSh 2,648,550) in allegedly forged checks passed through Mogambi’s hands before authorities intervened.
Mogambi is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
