A U.S. District Court Chief Judge, J. Randal Hall, has jailed two people of Nigerian descent, who stole nearly $250,000 from an Augusta attorney, in federal prison.

39-year-old Gloria Ifem Okolie of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 24 months while her accomplice and co-defendant, Paul Wilson Aisosa, 52, of Dallas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

The two will also be required to each serve three years on supervised release after completion of their prison terms.

The court also ordered Okolie and Aisosa to pay $265,218.83 restitution. Both were ordered to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service on Jan. 6.

According to the US Department of Justice, Okolie, who was found guilty by a federal jury in March, and Aisosa, who pled guilty to the charges, participated in a scheme to steal $246,218.83 from an Augusta real estate attorney who was deceived into rerouting the proceeds from the sale of a West Lake home.

The money was sent to an account Okolie opened at a Dallas bank, where she, Aisosa and a co-conspirator who is currently in Nigeria withdrew large portions of the money that they sent to other conspirators who also are believed to be in Nigeria.

“These thieves schemed with other crooks to steal money from an honest citizen whose trust they cynically violated,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine.

“Our office will not hesitate to slam shut the prison doors on criminals who exploit law-abiding people to line their own pockets.

Thomas J. Holloman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office, said

“Today’s sentencing of two co-conspirators highlights how seriously IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners take the issue of defrauding honest working citizens.

“We will continue to pursue criminals who prey on innocent victims and we will continue to enforce our nation’s laws. Today’s sentencings should send a clear message to would-be criminals: You will be caught and you will be punished.”