U.S. authorities have issued a federal arrest warrant for a Nigerian national, Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, after she failed to report to prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence for her role in a romance fraud scheme.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana confirmed that Hall, a lawful permanent resident, was due to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 25, 2026, but did not comply with the order. ([Department of Justice][1])
Following her failure to report, a criminal complaint and arrest warrant were approved on April 14, 2026, by a U.S. magistrate judge. Authorities say Hall is currently at large. ([Department of Justice][1])
Investigators revealed that data from her electronic monitoring device last placed her at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, where the signal stopped transmitting. Although she had earlier indicated plans to travel to Minnesota, airline records show she never boarded the scheduled flight. Phone records instead suggest she may have travelled toward Washington, D.C. ([Department of Justice][1])
Hall had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering, in connection with a romance scam that targeted mostly older women. Prosecutors said she was part of a scheme that used fake identities on social media platforms to build trust with victims before soliciting money under false pretences. ([Department of Justice][1])
She was sentenced in January 2026 to 96 months (eight years) in prison, but was allowed to remain on bond until her reporting date. ([Department of Justice][1])
Authorities warned that, in addition to her original sentence, Hall could face up to 10 more years in prison if convicted of failing to report, along with possible fines and supervised release. ([Department of Justice][1])
U.S. officials say efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend her, urging anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact law enforcement agencies.
