A Lincoln man faces 10 federal charges in an alleged student financial aid scheme involving stolen identities and payments sent to Kenya. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the case October 29 as part of its nationwide Operation Ghostbusters investigation.
A Nebraska federal grand jury indicted Francis Mogambi on October 19 on five counts each of theft of government money and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors allege the scheme operated between November 2025 and May 2026.
According to the Justice Department, Mogambi worked with associates in Kenya to use stolen identities to enroll people in educational institutions and redirect their financial aid checks to himself. Prosecutors say he kept 30% of the proceeds and sent the remainder to associates in Kenya.
The federal announcement follows earlier reporting about a Lincoln police investigation. In September, 10/11 NOW identified Francis Smith Mogambi as a Lincoln resident facing a state forgery charge and reported that investigators traced checks to his home near 27th and Y streets.
The Justice Department lists an intended loss of $20,000 in the federal case. Mogambi has been arrested and is detained pending trial. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
People who believe they were victims of student aid fraud can submit a report through the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s complaint form.