US Court Jails 3 Nigerians for $2M Fraud

Three Nigerian nationals in the United States have been convicted and sentenced for their participation in a large-scale fraud operation that predominantly targeted senior citizens.

A 38 year-old man, Fatai Okunola, of Kalamazoo, has been handed a long prison sentence and a substantial financial penalty of over $730,000 for conspiring in the fraud operation.

Fatai Okunola received a sentence of five years for providing false information during the naturalization process and 10 years for money laundering.

Additionally, two Dallas residents were also sentencedwhich included 34-year-old Oluwaseyi Adeola who was given a nearly three-year prison term and ordered to pay around $410,000 in restitution.

Ijeoma Adeola was given a sentence of three years probation for failing to report a felony, alongside a restitution order of approximately $49,000.

The US-based defendants collaborated with Nigerian accomplices to target vulnerable American residents, including the elderly.

The scheme involved creating fake online personas to establish relationships with victims through social media, texting, and phone calls.

Once trust was established, victims were deceived into sending money to the defendants, who laundered the funds through a complex network of bank accounts, alias names, and shell companies. The money was then distributed among the defendants and their Nigerian partners.

Some of the scammed funds were also used to purchase cars in the US, which were subsequently shipped to Nigeria with Okunola’s assistance.

US Attorney Mark Totten pointed out that the defendants used modern technology, such as the internet and social media, to specifically target and scam older adults and people who were easily taken advantage of.

Totten also said the sentencings were an important step towards fairness for the people hurt by the fraud scheme. He highlighted the devastating consequences faced by many victims, who drained their retirement funds, leveraged their homes, or endured other severe financial hardships due to the defendants deceitful tactics.