Jungle Journalist Media Limited
  • News
  • Politics
  • Economy and Business
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • entertainment
  • Health
  • Niger Delta
  • Security
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Economy and Business
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • entertainment
  • Health
  • Niger Delta
  • Security
No Result
View All Result
Jungle Journalist Media Limited
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Economy and Business
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • entertainment
  • Health
  • Niger Delta
  • Security

U.S. charges Nigerian social media influencer, 10 others for $9 million fraud

by Jungle Journalist
October 16, 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Patrick J. Freaney, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“Secret Service”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging 11 defendants with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with their involvement in laundering millions of dollars in proceeds derived from business email compromises and romance fraud schemes.

Nine defendants were arrested today in the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of New York, and will be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in the Southern District of New York. One defendant was arrested in the Southern District of Texas, and will be presented today in that district’s federal court. One defendant remains at large.

ADVERTISEMENT

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants were part of a criminal enterprise that not only defrauded businesses by assuming the online identities of legitimate counterparties, but also preyed on vulnerable elderly people, deceiving victims into sending money in phony romance scams. Thanks to the Secret Service, the defendants are now facing federal felony charges.”

ReadAlso

Court convicts 16 internet fraudsters in Enugu

13 exotic cars recovered, as EFCC intercepts 31 suspected internet fraudsters in Benin

Secret Service Special Agent-in-Charge Patrick J. Freaney said: “As the continued threat posed by cyber enabled fraud remains ever present, the U.S. Secret Service remains steadfast in its pursuit of those who threaten our collective financial security.

This case is no exception, as the defendants allegedly utilized a myriad of fraud schemes, to include romance scams and business email compromises, to defraud over 50 victims in excess of $9 million. Due to the efforts of the Secret Service and our partners at the New York City Police Department Financial Crimes Task Force, this organized group will no longer be able to operate its alleged scheme to defraud and will answer the charges brought against them in the Southern District of New York.”

ADVERTISEMENT

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court[1]:

ADEDAYO JOHN, OLUWADAMILOLA AKINPELU, KAZEEM RAHEEM, MORAKINYO GBEYIDE, WARRIS ADENUGA, a/k/a “Blue,” SMART AGUNBIADE, LATEEF GOLOBA, SAMSONDEEN GOLOBA, OLAWALE OLANIYAN, OLAWOYIN PETER OLAREWAJU, and EMMANUEL ORONSAYE-AJAYI (collectively, the “Defendants”) participated in one or both of a money laundering conspiracy and bank fraud conspiracy, which received funds stolen from victims.

Victims were typically defrauded in one of two ways. In some instances, business email compromise fraud schemes were used to trick businesses into transferring funds to bank accounts the victims believed were under the control of legitimate recipients of the funds as part of normal business operations, when in fact the bank accounts were under the control of the Defendants or their co-conspirators.

In other instances, romance scams were used, primarily through electronic messages sent via email, text messaging, social media, or online dating websites, to deceive victims – many of whom were vulnerable older men and women – into believing they were in romantic relationships with fake identities, and then using false pretenses to cause the victims to transfer funds to bank accounts controlled by the Defendants or their co-conspirators.

ADVERTISEMENT

As a result of these frauds, law enforcement officers have identified more than 50 victims who have transferred more than $9 million to bank accounts under the control of the Defendants.

Ten defendants – ADEDAYO JOHN, 32, OLUWADAMILOLA AKINPELU, 26, KAZEEM RAHEEM, 29, MORAKINYO GBEYIDE, 39, WARRIS ADENUGA, a/k/a “Blue,” 26, LATEEF GOLOBA, 27, SAMSONDEEN GOLOBA, 29, OLAWALE OLANIYAN, 41, OLAWOYIN PETER OLAREWAJU, 34, and EMMANUEL ORONSAYE-AJAYI, 30 – are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Nine defendants – ADEDAYO JOHN, 32, SMART AGUNBIADE, 28, OLUWADAMILOLA AKINPELU, 26, MORAKINYO GBEYIDE, 39, WARRIS ADENUGA, a/k/a “Blue,” 26, LATEEF GOLOBA, 27, SAMSONDEEN GOLOBA, 29, OLAWOYIN PETER OLAREWAJU, 34, and EMMANUEL ORONSAYE-AJAYI, 30 – are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

One defendant – MORAKINYO GBEYIDE, 39 – is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison. The maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Secret Service. The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky and Matthew Weinberg are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Related

Tags: Internet fraudstersSocial media influencer
Share4Tweet3Send
Previous Post

Every DSS officer jostled to handle my case- Chinwetalu Agu

Next Post

Buhari Grants Presidential Pardon, Offers to Pay Gratuities of Ex-Biafran Soldiers

You MayAlso Like

crime

Rochas: It is a big insult to disobey the nation’s laws, resist arrest and even attack the police

May 25, 2022
Bizarre

Suspected ‘Yahoo Boy’ mutters incantation after arrest for killing pregnant girlfriend for ritual

May 20, 2022
International

CAN calls for national, international protests against lynching, burning of Deborah Samuel

May 15, 2022
crime

Kidnap of 50 JAMB students: Edo Police breaks silence

May 8, 2022
Biafra

We Didn’t Designate IPOB As Terrorist Organisation – UK

May 7, 2022
crime

Police apprehend 46 suspects, recover firearms, ammunition, vehicles in Enugu

May 6, 2022
Next Post

Buhari Grants Presidential Pardon, Offers to Pay Gratuities of Ex-Biafran Soldiers

Port Harcourt billboard accidentally plays porn video for 22 seconds

Discussion about this post

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent Posts

  • Peter Obi visits NNPP leader, may emerge Rabiu Kwankwaso’s running mate
  • BREAKING: Peter Mbah emerges Enugu PDP guber candidate
  • Monkeypox: Another Red-Alert for Nigeria
  • Just In! Peter Obi Dumps PDP, Pulls Out Of Presidential Primary
  • BREAKING: Prof Ikonne wins Abia PDP Governorship Ticket
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent Comments

  • Ogbuenyi Sunday on Anambra police arrest river-bathing prophet ‘Onye Eze Jesus’
  • Stephen CE on List of international stars who have joined #EndSARS/#EndSWAT and what they said

Trending

JUST IN: CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele sacked

BREAKING: List of winners of Enugu State House of Assembly PDP primaries

Ebonyi Prophet speaks on Igbo Presidency, reveals Buhari’s successor, what will happen to Kwankwaso, Shekarau

Woman discovers 4 cats and 1 snake living inside her car in Edo State

BREAKING NEWS: 2023- Jonathan, Emefiele disqualified from Presidential race

Crises Looms In APGA As Senatorial Aspirant Calls Out Gov. Soludo

Enugu 2023: Ekweremmadu, Odengene, Onoh opts out of guber primaries, as Peter Mbah is tipped as PDP flagbearer

U.S. charges Nigerian social media influencer, 10 others for $9 million fraud

ADVERTISEMENT

Rochas: It is a big insult to disobey the nation’s laws, resist arrest and even attack the police

Just In! Peter Obi Dumps PDP, Pulls Out Of Presidential Primary

ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Stories

  • JUST IN: CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele sacked

    1222 shares
    Share 489 Tweet 306
  • BREAKING: Enugu LG election turns bloody, 5 killed as unknown gunmen abduct journalists(+Disturbing Images)

    358 shares
    Share 143 Tweet 90
  • BREAKING: Founder of Synagogue for All Nations, TB Joshua dies after programme

    271 shares
    Share 108 Tweet 68
  • Lekki girl who sleeps with dogs for N1.5M battling incurable diseases, confesses to friend

    207 shares
    Share 83 Tweet 52
  • Ebenebe Burial Masaacre: Shocking details of why cultists killed mourners emerge

    178 shares
    Share 71 Tweet 45
  • BIAFRA: How Nnamdi Kanu ‘saw’ the death of TB Joshua

    175 shares
    Share 70 Tweet 44

ABOUT US

Jungle Journalist Media Limited

Jungle Journalist Media Limited

Jungle Journalist is an online news and information resource centre dedicated to accurate and timely news reports.

Read More >>

CONNECT WITH US

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Biafra
  • birthday
  • Bizarre
  • Breaking News
  • Building and Properties
  • Columnist
  • Community Reports
  • crime
  • Economy and Business
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • Election
  • electricity
  • entertainment
  • Health
  • Holidays
  • Human Rights
  • International
  • Interviews
  • Law
  • Magazine
  • media
  • Money
  • National
  • News
  • Niger Delta
  • North
  • Obituary
  • Oil and Gas
  • Opinions
  • Photos
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Religion and Culture
  • Science and Technology
  • Security
  • South East
  • South-South
  • South-West
  • Sports
  • Transport and Aviation
  • Violence
  • Women and Children
  • Worship
  • Youth
No Result
View All Result

NEWS SOURCES

  • Punch
  • Nigerian Tribune
  • The Nation
  • Thisday
  • DailyTrust
  • The Sun
  • Daily Independent
  • PM News
  • Vanguard
  • Premium Times
  • Sahara Reporters
  • The Guardian
  • Leadership
  • Daily Times Of Nigeria
    • About
    • Advertise With Us
    • Privacy Policy

    © 2021 Jungle Journalist Media Limited - Web Designed by AfeesHost.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • News
    • Politics
    • Economy and Business
    • Sports
    • Editorial
    • Education
    • entertainment
    • Health
    • Niger Delta
    • Security

    © 2021 Jungle Journalist Media Limited - Web Designed by AfeesHost.