Nigerian in the US faces 20 years in jail for $2.7 million fraud

The United States Department of Justice has said that a 41-year-old Nigerian, Babajide Adesayo, could spend 10 years in jail after a federal jury found him guilty of laundering over $2.7 million from victims of romance fraud and other online scams.

The US DoJ shared this information in a statement on its website on Wednesday. Adesayo, who lives in Douglasville, Georgia, was convicted on August 6, 2026, after an eight-day trial.

The statement also revealed that Adesayo was found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering.

The offences took place between April 2020 and September 2021. During this time, fraudsters allegedly targeted elderly victims online. They pretended to be friends, business associates, and romantic partners.

Evidence presented in court showed that these fraudsters built relationships with the victims. They then asked for money under false pretenses, claiming they needed funds for business equipment, medical treatment, injuries, or to get out of prison.

Victims were allegedly told to transfer large sums of money into business accounts owned by Adesayo’s co-defendant, Efemena Igbe, who is also Nigerian.

The statement said, "The fraudsters directed most victims to send hundreds of thousands of dollars, including the victims’ retirement savings and other hard-earned income, to the business accounts of Adesayo’s co-defendant, Nigerian national Efemena Igbe."

It continued, "As soon as Igbe received funds from the victims, he immediately sent most of the money to Adesayo and tried to hide the fraudulent transactions by falsely notating that the money was intended for the purchase of cars from Adesayo’s automotive business."

After Adesayo received the money, he quickly sent most of it to accounts overseas in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other countries. Over 17 months, Adesayo received and moved over $2.7 million from victims.

The statement further claimed that Adesayo kept laundering money even after his arrest in June 2024 while he was waiting for trial.

According to the prosecution, some victims sent money straight to Adesayo’s business accounts. Others sent funds to third-party accounts before the money was later transferred to him.

Adesayo quickly withdrew or transferred the money right after he received it. His bond was revoked after his post-arrest activities were discovered.

He has been in federal custody since March 2, 2026.

The US DoJ mentioned that Adesayo is set to be sentenced on November 20, 2026, by United States District Judge Mark H. Cohen.

The statement added that Adesayo could face up to 20 years in prison for each conspiracy count, up to 10 years for each transactional money-laundering count, and an additional 10 years for allegedly committing offences while on release.

"Sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., before United States District Judge Mark H. Cohen."

"Adesayo faces up to 20 years of imprisonment on each of the conspiracy counts, up to 10 years of imprisonment on the transactional money laundering counts, and a consecutive sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment for committing offences while on release."

The statement concluded, "In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders."