In a dramatic turn of events, Wilson Daniel Freita Da Costa, a former executive of General Electric (GE) in Angola, was found guilty in a U.S. federal court of committing serious crimes, including fraud and identity theft. The trial, which took place in Manhattan, New York, revealed how Da Costa used fake documents to trick both GE and the Angolan government into making massive financial payments. The case has captured attention due to the scale of the fraud and the high-profile nature of the defendant.
Da Costa’s Brazen Fraud Scheme
In 2017, Da Costa was serving as the CEO of GE Angola, a branch of the multinational company that deals with various industrial equipment, including turbines. During this time, he devised a scheme to deceive his employer and the Angolan government. Da Costa forged documents on Angolan Government letterhead, making it look like top government officials had agreed to purchase more turbines from GE than they actually had. These forged documents misled GE into providing a $1.1 billion loan to the Angolan government based on the false promise of turbine orders.
What Da Costa did next was even more dishonest. When questions about the true nature of the government’s purchases began to arise, he continued to lie and relied on the same fake documents he had already used. His goal was to keep the fraud going long enough to receive personal financial gains. In return for his part in the scam, Da Costa was paid millions of dollars in kickbacks from a local company in Angola that had contracts to supply the turbines to the government.
The Crime and Its Consequences
The charges against Da Costa were serious. He was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, both of which are major criminal offenses. Wire fraud refers to using electronic communication to trick someone into giving up money or property, while aggravated identity theft involves using someone’s personal information for illegal purposes.
The jury convicted Da Costa of one count of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. These crimes carry severe penalties. For wire fraud, Da Costa could face up to 20 years in prison, while the identity theft charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other prison time.
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The impact of his actions was enormous. Not only did the Angolan government get misled into agreeing to spend money it hadn’t planned to, but the situation also affected GE, which was tricked into providing financial support based on false information. Hundreds of millions of dollars were disbursed under fraudulent pretenses, making this case one of significant financial harm to both public and private sectors.
The Investigation and the Verdict
The investigation into Da Costa’s actions was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. HSI is responsible for investigating major crimes that cross international borders, including fraud and identity theft. Thanks to their careful work, Da Costa’s fraudulent activities were uncovered and brought to light during a two-week trial. The trial, which took place before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, ended with a unanimous guilty verdict.
This conviction highlights the serious consequences of corporate fraud and identity theft, especially when they involve large companies and government entities. The case is a reminder that such crimes can have wide-reaching effects, not only causing financial loss but also damaging the trust between businesses and governments. For Da Costa, the legal process is not yet over—he is scheduled for sentencing on February 26, 2025, where the court will determine his punishment.
As of now, Da Costa, a 51-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, faces a significant prison sentence, thanks to the diligent work of the prosecution and the investigative team. The case was prosecuted by the Illicit Finance & Money Laundering Unit of the Southern District of New York, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer N. Ong, Christopher D. Brumwell, and Samuel P. Rothschild handling the case. This conviction sends a strong message that fraudulent behavior will be prosecuted aggressively, especially when it involves such high stakes.
The trial and conviction have drawn attention to the seriousness of financial crimes and how they can be used to manipulate large institutions for personal gain. It also highlights the importance of vigilance and thorough investigations to bring such criminals to justice.
