Abdul Osumanu a Union Omaha football player has pleaded not guilty to federal accusations of defrauding two individuals out of more than $214,000 in a romance hoax, according to officials.
The lawsuit against Abdul Osumanu, 24, is still pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Osumanu pleaded not guilty to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and receipt of stolen money, according to court documents.
The Tuesday afternoon hearing in West Virginia lasted less than five minutes. Osumanu, who had waived his right to be present Tuesday, also waived that right for any and all hearings before trial.
The starting defender for the Omaha soccer team was arrested May 27, the day after he played in Union Omaha’s fifth game of the season. A grand jury indicted him and a co-defendant in two online schemes to garner money.
According to the indictment, Osumanu received checks and deposits “by falsely cultivating relationships” through online or text-message communications.
Authorities said he and another man created fake online personas “Amida Ibrahim” and “Jack London” and tricked an Indiana resident and a California woman into online romances.
The indictment listed the money subject to forfeiture in connection with the case as at least $24,882 for Osumanu and at least $189,404 for the other defendant, totaling more than $214,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Osumanu’s federal public defender, David Bungard, declined to comment on the case.
Peter Marlette, the general manager for Union Omaha, said Osumanu is not participating in team activities, including practices and games — a decision that was made when the club learned of his arrest. Osumanu has not, however, been released from the team.
Marlette declined to comment on future decisions regarding Osumanu’s contract with the team.