Nigerian pleads guilty in $50m US fraud scheme
A United States-based Nigerian, Animashaun Adebo, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in a large-scale business email compromise and romance scam. The fraudulent activities resulted in over $50 million in losses, targeting individuals and small businesses across the US, particularly in the Eastern District of New York. Investigations revealed that Adebo and his co-conspirators laundered the stolen funds through shell companies and luxury purchases. Other individuals, including Nelson Ojeriakhi and Idowu Ademoroti, have also been implicated in the scheme, with some already convicted and sentenced.
What happened
- Animashaun Adebo, also known as “Kazeem,” pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy at a federal court in Brooklyn.
- The fraud involved business email compromise and romance scams, causing over $50 million in losses to victims.
- The group laundered funds through shell company accounts in the US and abroad, sometimes using unsuspecting intermediaries.
- Nelson Ojeriakhi was arrested in Paris and extradited to the US in July 2025; he pleaded guilty in November 2025 and is awaiting sentencing.
- Another co-defendant, Idowu Ademoroti, has already been convicted and sentenced, while a fourth suspect, Noguan Eboigbe, remains at large.
