Raymond Imozemhe, 22, was served a three-year jail term for impersonating well-known Hollywood actor Tom Cruise.

Imozemhe and six other people were found guilty of online fraud on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, by Justice Efe Ikponwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, according to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The other participants are David Oghneyerivwo Ighere, Jimmy Emmanuel, Oritseweyinmi Allen Poto, Osapamwan Destiny Gaius, and Christian Okafor.

The charge against Imozemhe reads: “That you, Raymond Imozemhe (m) sometime in 2023 at Ugbor Central GRA, Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud falsely represent yourself to be one Tom Cruise, Hollywood celebrity from the United States of America, in your Scrabble Game account and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 384(1) of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.”

After admitting guilt to their separate accusations, Imozemhe and the other defendants prompted the prosecution's attorneys, Salihu Ahmed, A.S. Bala-Ribah, and Al-Amin Abdul Ibrahim, to ask the court to find them guilty and punish them appropriately.

However, as the defendants were first-time offenders, the defendants' attorney begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Imozemhe, Okafor, and Emmanuel were found guilty and given three years in prison with the possibility of a N200,000 fine by Justice Ikponmwonba.

Poto received a sentence of three years in prison or a fine of 300,000 Naira, while Ighere received a sentence of two years in prison and a fine option of 200,000 Naira.

The defendants were also ordered to surrender to the Federal Government of Nigeria the proceeds of crime, including a Mercedes Benz GLK 350, Lexus ES 350, one black Toyota Camry, mobile phones, and a UBA draft for N960,000.

The defendants must promise in writing to behave well going forward.