North Dakota
Nigerian man sentenced for scamming North Dakota law firm out of nearly $200,000
BISMARCK — A Nigerian man has been sentenced to almost 12 years in prison after he scammed a North Dakota law firm out of nearly $200,000.
North Dakota U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor sentenced Christopher Ndubuisi Agbaje on Wednesday, Sept. 11, to 142 months in federal prison. The sentence comes after a jury found Agbaje guilty in May of money laundering, as well as aiding and abetting with wire and mail fraud.
“This strong sentence shows that international fraudsters cannot hide from justice,” North Dakota U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider said in a statement. “When North Dakotans are the victims of fraud, our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will work internationally to hold defendants accountable in a federal courtroom in Bismarck or Fargo.”
Agbaje and others formed a “sophisticated scheme” to defraud a law firm in Mercer County out of $198,337, as well as a Florida law firm out of $195,500, from November 2020 to January 2021, according to court documents. The group falsely claimed to be the president of a Florida company called Anthem Equipment Inc., according to court documents. The group claimed to be in a legal dispute with a Bismarck company and then started a “fictitious attorney-client relationship” with the North Dakota law firm, a news release said.
Court documents didn’t identify the law firms.
Agbaje was extradited from the United Kingdom to North Dakota
in February.
Prosecutors asked for 60 months in prison, while Agbaje’s attorney, Dane DeKrey, recommended 37 months, according to court documents. A presentence investigation report advised a sentence of 57 to 71 months, court documents said.
The Forum has reached out to DeKrey for comment but did not hear back from him by publishing time.
11 Mar NORTH DAKOTANS WIN NEARLY A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS
in News
March 11, 2026
Media Contact: Ryan Koppy 701.328.1574
BISMARCK, ND – Multiple North Dakota Lottery players have won big over the last seven days, one hitting a $150,000 Powerball with Power Play prize and four others winning $22,000 2by2 jackpot prizes! The $150,000 Powerball with Power Play ticket matched four white balls and the Powerball (22, 23, 28, 36, 54; Powerball 13; Power Play 3) on the Monday, March 9, draw. The four, $22,000 2by2 jackpot prizes were won on March 3, 4, 6, and 9.
The Powerball prize was $50,000, but as the player had also purchased the Power Play option, the ticket is worth $150,000. The lucky ticket was purchased via the North Dakota Lottery’s Pick & Click online play service by an anonymous player from Bottineau and the player has yet to claim the prize. The Pick & Click online play service gives players the option to buy tickets, – via the Lottery website or mobile app – for a single draw, multiple draws, or four weeks at a time with a subscription.
The four, $22,000 2by2 jackpot winning tickets were sold at Cenex (209 4th Ave SW, Garrison), Hornbacher’s Osgood (4151 45th St. South, Fargo), Petro Serve USA (W. Main St., Valley City), and Berger’s Landing Strip (100 A Avenue, Emerado). All four retailers will each receive a $500 bonus for selling the winning 2by2 tickets. The prizes won in Fargo and Valley City have been claimed by anonymous players from Fargo and Rogers, ND.
“The lottery luck continues in North Dakota” said Thomas Lawler, director of the North Dakota Lottery. “Over the past three months, North Dakota Lottery players have won thirteen $22,000 2by2 jackpots, and two $150,000 Powerball prizes. 2by2 has had 763 jackpot winners and 32 Tuesday Doubler jackpot winners since the game launched in early 2006.” Winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prize.
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday, March 11 draw is $58 million. The 2by2 game draws every day and the jackpot is always $22,000. For winning numbers and other information, visit LOTTERY.ND.GOV.
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The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
Long Beach State hosted North Dakota State on March 10 where they suffered a 5-2 loss. Freshman Nina Sepulveda had two hits in the loss. Long Beach State will resume Big West play this weekend when they travel to UC Riverside for a three-game series starting Friday, March 13.
GRAND FORKS — Four area athletes were selected to the North Dakota Division A all-state girls basketball team, which was released by the North Dakota High School Coaches Association on Tuesday.
The North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association will release all-state teams later this month.
Thompson’s Addison Sage led the way as a first team all-state pick, as well as receiving the division’s Outstanding Senior Athlete honor. Her coach, Jason Brend, was the Coach of the Year.
All-state second team choices from the area are Devils Lake junior Tylie Brodina, Four Winds-Minnewaukan sophomore Suri Gourd and Thompson senior Kya Hurst.
Sage, a 5-foot-6 guard, averaged 22.3 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Sage has more than 1,900 career points and holds the Tommies’ all-time scoring record.
Brodina, a 5-8 guard, averaged 18.8 points and 2.6 steals per game. She shot 82 percent from the foul line and 32 percent from 3-point range.
Hurst, a 5-6 forward, averaged 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She added 3.7 steals and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Hurst has scored more than 1,600 points and grabbed more than 840 rebounds in her career.
Gourd, a 5-8 guard, averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 4.4 steals per game. Gourd has more than 1,600 career points in her career with two more seasons to play.
Gourd led Four Winds-Minnewaukan from a 5-17 record last season to a 16-8 mark this year.
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