The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas has reported the arrest of a Houston man in connection with a multimillion-dollar email and money laundering fraud. On June 11, a federal grand jury indicted 33-year-old Edikan Adiakpan on several counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and illegal money transmission. The indictment, as outlined by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei, alleges Adiakpan's involvement in a business email compromise scheme that operated across at least eight states and notably targeted a California research group that develops treatments for U.S. veterans.
According to a statement made by the Department of Justice, the scam involved 'spoofed' emails that deceived victims into transferring funds to bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters rather than the intended suppliers. These proceeds were then reportedly laundered through multiple bank accounts and converted into cashier’s checks, which Adiakpan is accused of cashing and keeping a percentage for himself.
The investigation, which led to Adiakpan's capture, was a collaborative effort between FBI – Houston, its Bryan Resident Agency, and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Christine Lu are cited as the case's prosecutors. Adiakpan, who is expected to make his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray, could face severe legal consequences. If convicted, he's looking at up to 20 years in federal prison on the conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges, with an additional five years possible for the illegal money transmission charge.
Further exacerbating the gravity of this international scheme, another Nigerian citizen, Ayobami Omoniyi, 26, has also been charged in relation to the same fraudulent operations and awaits sentencing. Each conviction related with these charges carries a potential $250,000 fine.
