- According to prosecutors, the trio conspired with accomplices in Nigeria to defraud U.S. residents through elaborate online scams
Three Nigerians in the United States have been sentenced for their roles in an extensive fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, U.S. authorities have confirmed.
Fatai Okunola, 38, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, received a sentence of just over 10 years in prison and was ordered to pay more than $730,000 in restitution.
In Dallas, Texas, Oluwaseyi Adeola, 34, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and ordered to repay approximately $410,000, while Ijeoma Adeola, 36, was given three years’ probation for misprision of a felony, along with a restitution order of nearly $49,000.
According to prosecutors, the trio conspired with accomplices in Nigeria to defraud U.S. residents through elaborate online scams. Using fake personas, the perpetrators built relationships via social media, texts, and phone calls, then solicited money from their victims under false pretenses.
The defendants were instrumental in receiving and transferring the funds, opening multiple bank accounts, and using P.O. boxes under aliases and shell businesses. The scheme, which operated between 2017 and 2022, accumulated more than $2 million.
Okunola reportedly used part of the funds to facilitate car purchases in the U.S., which were later shipped to Nigeria.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten condemned the scheme, saying:
“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.”
He highlighted the devastating impact on victims, many of whom lost retirement savings or faced severe financial distress.
Authorities emphasized that the fraudsters exploited modern technology to prey on their victims, underlining the growing threat of online financial scams.
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