Man Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud In Pit Bull Puppy Scheme: Report

MOUNT RAINIER, MD — A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after generating at least $158,000 by falsely advertising the sale of pit bull puppies on various websites.

More than 100 victims transferred money to Fonjeck Eric Azoh, 42, of Mount Rainier, then never got the dogs, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said in a news release on Monday. Azoh's charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and potential financial penalties.

Between January 2019 and October 2020, Azoh offered the pit bull puppies on various websites. He agreed to sell the dogs to victims living throughout the United States despite not intending to provide them, according to the government's evidence.

"Azoh directed victims to send money to him through money transfer businesses, which he then collected at retail stores and elsewhere," the news release said. "Throughout the scheme, Azoh collected at least $158,000 from at least 119 victims who lived in 40 different states."

As part of his plea agreement, Azoh agreed to pay at least $158,000 in restitution. He also agreed to forfeit $67,000 seized by law enforcement during the investigation and pay an additional $92,000 forfeiture money judgment.

Azoh was arrested in January 2021 and has been in custody ever since, according to the news release. He will be sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Nov. 17, 2021 by the Honorable Carl J. Nichols.

The full news release can be found here.