Ebony Mayfield, who allegedly signed and submitted false documents used by Mr Onyema to defraud banks, faces a bank fraud charge at the U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia, Atlanta Division.
Between April 25 and May 16, according to the court’s schedule, parties are expected to file various preliminary motions and replies ahead of a pretrial conference and motions hearing slated for June 2. But prosecutors say Ms Mayfield was recruited as a manager of Springfield Aviation with the role of entering into aviation-related contract on behalf of the firm, despite her lack of education, training, or licensing in the review and valuation of aircraft, including aircraft components.
In support of the letters of credit, Mr Onyema and others were said to have submitted documents such as purchase agreements, bills of sale, and appraisals proving that Air Peace was purchasing the aircraft from Springfield Aviation Company LLC. The support documents, U.S. prosecutors say, were found to be falsified. The aircraft that was referenced in each of the export letters of credit was also never owned or sold by Springfield Aviation, the government added.
The CEO of Air Peace, a major Nigerian airline operator, and Mr Eghagha now face 36 charges of conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and credit application fraud in the U.S. court. Ms Mayfield, on her part, faces only one charge of bank fraud in a different case at the same court.PREMIUM TIMES reported that Georgia State authorities have dissolved Springfield Aviation allegedly used for the fraud.