‘Many victims’: Nigerian national handed 3-year federal prison sentence for cyber scams targeting US citizens, businesses

CHICAGO — A Nigerian man who conned numerous US citizens and businesses through a variety of cyber scams will spend more than three years in federal prison.

Ridwan Adeleke Adepoju, 33, of Lagos, Nigeria, was handed the 43-month prison sentence on Tuesday, according to Andrew Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Prosecutors say Adepoju, who pleaded guilty in March to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, victimized numerous US citizens and businesses through a multitude of scams, including phishing scams, romance scams and the submission of fraudulent tax returns.

Adepoju used multiple spoofed email addresses, fictional social media personas and unwitting money mules to conduct his schemes and his victims included individuals and companies in the Chicago area.

Adepoju was arrested in the United Kingdom last year before being extradited to the United States. 

“Defendant’s offense involved a years-long, complex scheme, involving several types of scams and many victims,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie E. Ursini argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant chose to be a willing participant in the scheme over and over again.”

Adepoju’s sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly.

Prosecutors did not provide a booking photo for Adepoju.