Three Nigerians have been sentenced in the United States for their roles in a fraud scheme targeting elderly and vulnerable victims, authorities have confirmed.
Fatai Okunola, 38, from Kalamazoo, was sentenced to just over 10 years in prison for conspiracy and money laundering.
He was also ordered to pay more than $730,000 in restitution. His sentences for money laundering and making false statements during naturalisation will run concurrently.
In Dallas, Oluwaseyi Adeola, 34, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and must pay approximately $410,000 in restitution.
Ijeoma Adeola, 36, received three years of probation for misprision of a felony and was ordered to pay just under $49,000 in restitution.
The defendants worked with Nigerian collaborators who created fake personas to defraud U.S. residents through online platforms, social media, text messages, and phone calls.
Victims were persuaded to send money to the defendants, who opened multiple bank accounts and used alias names and shell businesses to launder the funds.
Okunola also facilitated car purchases with stolen funds, shipping vehicles to Nigeria.
Between 2017 and 2022, the scheme generated over $2 million.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten remarked, “Financial fraud is not a faceless crime. Today’s sentences bring a measure of justice for the victims who suffered devastating financial losses due to the defendants’ lies.”
