Two Nigerians, Edikan Adiakpan, (33 years) and Ayobami Omoniyi (26 years) have been arrested in the United States (U.S.) over alleged large-scale b over alleged large-scale business email compromise and money laundering scheme.
The scheme reportedly defrauded organisations across “eight states, including a California-based medical research group focused on developing treatments for US military veterans.”
This was disclosed in a press release posted on the “US Department of Justice’s website on Thursday.”
The US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, “Nicholas J. Ganjei,” announced the arrest, stating that Edikan Adiakpan is expected to make his initial court appearance before “Magistrate Judge Peter Bray in Houston.”
Adiakpan was indicted on “three counts,” returned by a federal grand jury on “June 11,” charging him with “conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and operating an unlicensed money transmission business.”
According to the US Department of Justice, “Adiakpan and his co-conspirators carried out the fraud in 2021 by sending spoofed emails that impersonated legitimate vendors.”
“They were allegedly tricked into sending payments to bank accounts the fraudsters controlled instead of the actual suppliers,” the statement revealed.
The DOJ further explained, “The charges further allege the conspirators laundered the funds by quickly transferring the money between multiple bank accounts they controlled. They then allegedly converted the funds into cashier’s checks. Adiakpan allegedly cashed the checks and kept a percentage as a fee.”
Another Nigerian, “26-year-old Ayobami Omoniyi,” had earlier been charged in connection with the same scheme and is “currently awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen.”
The statement added, “If convicted, Adiakpan faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges and up to five years for the illegal money transmitting. Each conviction carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine.”
The investigation was conducted by the “FBI’s Houston field office, its Bryan Resident Agency, and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit.”
The case is being prosecuted by “Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Christine Lu.”
