Nigerian man convicted in US of laundering over $2.7 million from online scams

The US Department of Justice announced that Adesayo was found guilty on August 6, 2026, after an eight-day trial, on two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering. The offenses occurred between April 2020 and September 2021, where fraudsters targeted elderly victims online, posing as friends, business associates, or romantic partners. Evidence presented in court showed that victims were directed to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars, including retirement savings, into business accounts belonging to Adesayo’s co-defendant, Efemena Igbe.

Igbe then sent most of the money to Adesayo, falsely noting the transactions were for car purchases from Adesayo’s automotive business. Adesayo subsequently transferred most of these funds to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other countries. Over 17 months, Adesayo received and moved over $2.7 million in victim funds.

He allegedly continued money laundering activities after his arrest in June 2024 while awaiting trial, leading to the revocation of his bond. Adesayo has been in federal custody since March 2, 2026, and is scheduled for sentencing on November 20, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark H. Cohen. He faces up to 20 y