U.S. Attorney Mark A. Totten has announced the sentencing of three individuals involved in an international fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims, originating from Nigeria. The defendants, who pled guilty in July 2024, have been sentenced for their roles in the mail and wire fraud conspiracy.
"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," said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. "Some of the victims lost their retirement savings, took loans against their homes, or suffered other financial distress because of the defendants’ lies."
Fatai Okunola, aged 38 from Kalamazoo, Michigan, received a sentence of 121 months' imprisonment and was ordered to pay restitution amounting to $731,879.16. His sentence includes charges for making false statements during his naturalization process and committing money laundering with proceeds from the fraud conspiracy. He will be deported following his prison term.
Oluwaseyi Adeola, aged 34 from Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 34 months in prison with a restitution order of $409,968.93. Ijeoma Adeola, aged 36 also from Dallas, Texas, received three years’ probation for failing to report a felony and assisting in its concealment; she was ordered to pay $48,570 in restitution.
Cory McDougal from Romeoville, Illinois is also involved in the case but awaits sentencing at a later date.
The court documents reveal that these individuals conspired with others primarily based in Nigeria to defraud numerous U.S.-based victims through schemes involving fake online personas. These included romantic scams and fraudulent offers related to goods and services or financial assistance.
The conspirators used technology such as voice-over-internet-protocol numbers to disguise their locations as within the United States while developing relationships with victims over social media or via telephone calls. Victims were then persuaded to send money through various means including bank transfers and peer-to-peer payment services like Zelle or PayPal.
"Our agents will continue the important work of dismantling interstate and international fraud schemes that would seek to rob Americans of their hard-earned money," stated Angie M. Salazar from HSI Detroit.
Rodney M. Hopkins from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service highlighted that "Today's sentencing of these defendants underscores our dedication to safeguarding vulnerable victims from those who attempt to exploit them through various fraud schemes."
Authorities encourage reporting ongoing internet crimes through IC3.gov as part of efforts to combat similar scams.
Federal agencies provide several recommendations for protection against such scams: be wary of unsolicited communications; avoid sharing sensitive information; resist pressure for quick actions; cease communication if suspecting a scam attempt.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service offices in Grand Rapids with support from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety under prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Stella.