Three Nigerians sentenced to jail in the US over $2 million fraud scheme
Three Nigerians sentenced to jail in the US over $2 million fraud scheme
Federal officials have revealed that three Nigerians living in the United States were punished for their roles in a long-running fraud scheme that mainly targeted elderly and vulnerable victims.
Fatai Okunola, 38, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for his involvement in the scheme. He was also given a five-year sentence for lying during the naturalization process.
In addition, he was mandated to make reparations totaling more than $730,000. Concurrent sentences will be used.
Two individuals from Dallas, Texas, were also sentenced for their part in the conspiracy. Oluwaseyi Adeola, 34, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and ordered to repay about $410,000 in restitution.
Meanwhile, Ijeoma Adeola, 36, received three years of probation for misprision of a felony and was directed to pay just under $49,000 in restitution.
The trio had conspired with accomplices in Nigeria to scam U.S. residents out of millions. The Nigerian partners created fake online personas, forging relationships with victims through social media, text messages, and phone calls, ultimately persuading them to send money.
These funds were directed to the defendants, who set up numerous bank accounts and P.O. boxes under false names and shell companies.
The defendants then funneled the stolen money between themselves and their Nigerian counterparts. Some of the proceeds were also used by Okunola to assist in purchasing cars in the U.S. and shipping them to Nigeria.
Between 2017 and 2022, the fraudulent operation amassed over $2 million, authorities revealed.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten condemned the crime, stating, “Financial fraud is not a ‘faceless’ crime — and today’s sentencings bring a measure of justice to the victims of this extensive international scam.”
Totten added that many victims had lost their retirement savings, taken out loans against their homes, or experienced severe financial hardship due to the defendants’ deceitful actions.
Totten further emphasised that modern technology, including the internet and social media platforms, had been exploited by the defendants to target and manipulate elderly individuals across the country.
