Federal prosecutors announced in a statement on Thursday that Abiola Kayode, a Nigerian national, has been extradited from Ghana to the United States to face charges related to a sophisticated $6 million business email compromise (BEC) fraud scheme.
United States Attorney Susan Lehr revealed that Kayode, 37, was arrested in April 2023 by Ghanaian authorities following a U.S. extradition request. He was subsequently surrendered to FBI special agents and brought to the District of Nebraska to face justice.
The indictment, originally filed in August 2019, alleges that Kayode played a crucial role in a complex cybercrime operation that targeted businesses across Nebraska and other states. The scheme involved sophisticated email spoofing tactics, where co-conspirators impersonated high-level company executives to trick employees into authorising fraudulent wire transfers.
According to court documents, Kayode’s primary contribution to the criminal enterprise was providing bank account details used to channel stolen funds. Prosecutors revealed a particularly insidious aspect of the operation: many of these accounts belonged to victims of internet romance scams who were coerced into transferring the stolen money.
The case has already seen significant prosecutorial success, with several of Kayode’s alleged co-conspirators having been brought to justice. Notable convictions include Adewale Aniyeloye, sentenced to 96 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.57 million in restitution, and Pelumi Fawehinmi, who received a 72-month sentence and $1.01 million in restitution.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge, Eugene Kowel, emphasised the agency’s commitment to dismantling such criminal networks. “Four years ago, we identified six Nigerian nationals suspected of defrauding individual victims and businesses in Nebraska and other states of millions of dollars,” Kowel stated. “Kayode is the second of those conspirators to be extradited. Our message to the remaining four co-conspirators: we are coming for you. Dismantling cyber-criminal groups that victimize U.S. citizens is a priority for the FBI, DOJ, and our international law enforcement partners. “
During his initial appearance on December 11, 2024, United States Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson ordered Kayode to be detained pending trial, underscoring the serious nature of the charges.
Kayode now awaits trial in the District of Nebraska, where he faces multiple charges related to the elaborate business email compromise scheme that allegedly defrauded businesses of over $6 million.
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