By John Ogunsemore
A United States-based Nigerian man, Edikan Adiakpan has been detained for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme.
US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Nicholas J. Ganjei disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Ganjei said Adiakpan, a Houston resident, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Houston on three-count charges on June 11.
Adiakpan is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and illegal money transmission.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges and up to five years for the illegal money transmitting.
Each conviction carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The US Attorney said the defendant made his maiden court appearance before US Magistrate Judge Peter Bray on Thursday.
The statement reads, 鈥淭he indictment alleges that in 2021, Adiakpan and co-conspirators carried out a business email compromise scheme targeting companies in at least eight states, including a California research group focused on developing treatments for US veterans.
鈥淰ictims received 鈥榮poofed鈥 emails that appeared to come from known suppliers and creditors, according to the charges.
鈥淭hey were allegedly tricked into sending payments to bank accounts the fraudsters controlled instead of the actual suppliers.
鈥淭he charges further allege the conspirators laundered the funds by quickly transferring the money between multiple bank accounts they controlled.
鈥淭hey then allegedly converted the funds into cashier鈥檚鈥 checks.
鈥淎diakpan allegedly cashed the checks and kept a percentage as a fee.鈥
The US Attorney said another Nigerian, Ayobami Omoniyi, 26, was previously charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of the same scheme and is awaiting sentencing before US District Judge Andrew S. Hanen.