A Nigerian national, Mercy Ojedeji, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for using the student visa system fraudulently and engaging in other related offenses, a U.S. district judge ruled on Monday. Ojedeji participated in a multi-level fraud scheme, which included obtaining a student visa with counterfeit documents and gaining admission to the University of Missouri’s chemistry PhD program.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 26-year-old Ojedeji admitted to using falsified academic records, fabricated recommendations, a misleading resume, and counterfeit proof of English proficiency to obtain a student visa and receive a stipend and tuition waiver totaling more than $49,000. After being dismissed from the University of Missouri for lack of participation, he continued to use the invalid visa and other fraudulent documents to obtain a Missouri driver’s license on February 26, 2024.
Ojedeji’s case also involved his association with Shirley Waller, who is serving a 93-month prison sentence for her role in multiple fraudulent schemes, including pandemic and mortgage fraud. The two used a bank account created with a Social Security number Ojedeji obtained through falsified documents to funnel proceeds from Waller’s schemes. They reportedly sent 193 packages containing illicit funds to Nigeria in an attempt to launder over $1 million, though authorities intercepted $94,150 from 17 of the packages.
In a press release, one victim reported losing $47,000, writing in a letter to Judge Autrey that it was “a terrible shame there are such people existing to steal money from innocent victims such as myself.” Another reported a month-long water shutoff due to losses from the scam. Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting the mail system from fraudulent activity. The case was investigated jointly by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and the Town and Country Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry leading the prosecution.
.jpg){kind=link}