Abiola Kayode, a Nigerian national and former FBI Most Wanted Cyber Criminal, has been extradited to the United States to face charges for his alleged role in a $6 million wire fraud scheme.
US Attorney Susan Lehr confirmed that Kayode was extradited to the District of Nebraska on a Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Indictment, filed in August 2019.
Kayode’s alleged involvement in the scheme dates back to 2015, when he and his co-conspirators posed as executives of targeted companies, sending spoofed emails to trick employees into wiring funds. The scheme defrauded businesses in Nebraska and elsewhere of over $6 million.
The FBI’s investigation revealed that Kayode provided bank account information to his co-conspirators, which was used to direct wire transfers. Some of these bank accounts belonged to victims of internet romance scams, who were instructed to transfer funds to other accounts.
Several of Kayode’s co-conspirators have already been convicted and sentenced, including Adewale Aniyeloye, who received a 96-month prison sentence, and Pelumi Fawehinimi, who was sentenced to 72 months.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel warned the remaining 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”.
