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Three US-based Nigerians jailed over $2m fraud targeting elderly victims

Three Nigerians residing in the United States have been sentenced for their roles in a fraud scheme that amassed over $2 million and frequently preyed on elderly victims.

According to authorities, 38-year-old Fatai Okunola, from Kalamazoo, was handed a prison sentence of just over 10 years for his involvement in the conspiracy. He was also ordered to pay restitution exceeding $730,000. Okunola received five years for making false statements during naturalisation and 10 years for money laundering, with both sentences to run concurrently.

Two Dallas residents were also sentenced in connection with the scheme. Oluwaseyi Adeola, 34, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $410,000, while 36-year-old Ijeoma Adeola was handed three years’ probation for misprision of a felony and ordered to pay just under $49,000 in restitution.

Investigations revealed that the trio conspired with individuals in Nigeria to defraud U.S. residents, many of whom were elderly or vulnerable. Their Nigerian collaborators created fake personas to build relationships online, via social media, text messages, or phone calls, and subsequently solicited money from victims.

Victims were instructed to send funds to the defendants, who established multiple bank accounts and P.O. boxes using aliases and shell businesses. The money was then transferred among the defendants and to their Nigerian counterparts.

Additionally, Okunola used some of the illicit funds to facilitate the purchase of vehicles in the U.S., which were shipped to Nigeria.

The scheme, which operated between 2017 and 2022, defrauded victims of over $2 million.

Commenting on the case, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said, “Financial fraud is not a ‘faceless’ crime — and today’s sentencings help secure a measure of justice for the victims of this international fraud scheme.”

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He further noted that some victims “lost their retirement savings, took loans against their homes, or suffered other financial distress because of the defendants’ lies.”

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Three US-based Nigerians jailed over $2m fraud targeting elderly victims

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