NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Wednesday that Anyanwu Benjamin Chizitere, 30, of Enugu, Nigeria, has been charged for his role in a fraud scheme targeting a New Jersey-based audiobook and podcast service. Chizitere faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of wire fraud, and three counts of copyright fraud.
Between February 2018 and April 2022, Chizitere and co-conspirators defrauded the NJ company and others, posing as rights holders for over 800 books and contracting with over 600 voice actors for audiobook production.
Chizitere received over $250,000 in royalties from the downloads of these infringing audiobooks. The voice actors, who were never compensated, suffered losses totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. The charges carry potential maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison and fines ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.