Two Nigerian nationals, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja, 39, and Abel Adeyi Daramola, 37, have been found guilty by a federal grand jury in the United States for their roles in a $560,000 internet fraud scheme.
The trial, held at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, lasted four days, culminating in the convictions announced on Monday.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the duo orchestrated a romance scam that defrauded a woman of $560,000, working alongside other members of a syndicate that included Nigerian celebrity auto dealer Adesuwa Ogiozee. While Mrs. Ogiozee has denied any involvement, alleging that U.S. authorities targeted her because of her Nigerian heritage, investigators identified Ogunlaja and Daramola as key participants in the fraud network.
Court documents revealed that in September 2016, the victim transferred $28,000 to a Woodforest Bank account under the name “Daramola Cars,” following instructions from a fake online persona, “Glenn Brown.” Investigators found evidence linking Daramola to the scheme, including bank transactions and communications that confirmed his role in facilitating fraudulent bank accounts.
Similarly, Ogunlaja’s involvement included using his Bank of America account to receive funds from the victim, amounting to $20,000 in cash deposits in March 2016. The funds were subsequently withdrawn or transferred to Daramola’s account.
Despite denying their roles in the fraud, FBI investigations uncovered text messages, WhatsApp conversations, and financial records implicating both men in multiple fraudulent schemes.
Both Ogunlaja and Daramola remain on bail as they await sentencing. They face up to 20 years in prison, although the specific duration will be determined during a pre-sentencing hearing.
