Chijindu Ujah: British-Nigerian Sprinter Charged With Conspiracy to Defraud in Alleged £300,000 Cryptocurrency Scam

British-Nigerian sprinter Chijindu “CJ” Ujah has been formally charged with conspiracy to defraud as part of a wide-ranging police investigation into an alleged cryptocurrency scam, according to The Sun. The 32-year-old is one of ten suspects facing charges, with at least one reported victim said to have lost £300,000.

Ujah appeared at Thanet Magistrates’ Court on April 30 and was released on bail. He and the other defendants are scheduled to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on May 28. No plea has been entered at this stage, and the case remains ongoing.

The suspects are alleged to form part of an organised crime group that contacted victims by telephone, with callers reportedly posing as police officers and representatives of cryptocurrency companies. Victims were allegedly manipulated into disclosing account security details, which allowed funds to be extracted from their cryptocurrency wallets.

The Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), working alongside Kent Police, City of London Police, and the Metropolitan Police, conducted coordinated raids across Kent, Essex, and London on April 29 — one day before Ujah’s initial court appearance. Fellow athlete Brandon Mingeli is also among those charged.

Born and raised in Enfield, London, to a family of Nigerian origin, Ujah attended St Matthew’s CE Primary School and Bishop Stopford’s School before going on to study at Sir George Monoux College in Walthamstow. He later earned a sports science degree from Middlesex University.

On the track, Ujah built a distinguished career at the domestic and international level, claiming double British 100m titles and winning 4x100m relay gold at the 2017 World Championships. He was also part of the Great Britain squad that claimed Olympic silver in the 4x100m relay at the Tokyo 2020 Games — a medal that was subsequently stripped following a doping violation.

Ujah tested positive for prohibited substances at those Games and received a 22-month ban, though he was ultimately cleared of intentional doping. He has not competed at senior level since 2024, when he made a brief return to the sport following his suspension.

The charges represent a significant development in what authorities have described as a coordinated criminal operation targeting cryptocurrency holders. The use of impersonation tactics — including individuals posing as law enforcement — is consistent with fraud methods flagged by UK financial crime agencies in recent years as cryptocurrency adoption has grown.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is expected to proceed at Chelmsford Crown Court from May 28.