A New York‑licensed attorney who got tangled in a Houston‑driven probe is heading to federal prison, along with an accomplice, after investigators tied them to a sprawling business‑email compromise scheme that siphoned payments from companies across the country. On Monday, Bolaji Okunnu was sentenced to 39 months and Amber Bush to 24 months in federal prison, and together they were ordered to repay roughly $1.45 million in restitution to victims.
In a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, prosecutors said Okunnu, 32, pleaded guilty Sept. 26, 2025, while Bush, 30, admitted her guilt Sept. 25. U.S. District Judge George Hanks imposed the sentences. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Okunnu, who at times held a New York law license, ran an unlicensed money‑transmitting business that received fraud proceeds and forwarded them for a fee.
Earlier indictments in the case surfaced in coverage of a nationwide business email scam, which noted the network stretched from Texas to New Jersey and involved dozens of co‑conspirators. Local reporting and filings show victims ranged from corporate vendors to a township and a healthcare insurer, underscoring how business‑email compromise schemes can hit organizations of very different sizes.
Prosecutors said Okunnu directed co‑defendants to destroy evidence on their phones and to fabricate explanations for large deposits, while Bush admitted she opened an account in another person’s name and issued four checks totaling $165,000 to a co‑defendant. The same release states that Okunnu was ordered to pay $255,399.47 in restitution and Bush to pay $1,189,247.02, amounts federal prosecutors say should be returned to victims nationwide.
How the scheme worked
Prosecutors say conspirators spoofed or hijacked legitimate vendor email accounts to send fraudulent wiring instructions, then routed stolen funds through a chain of accounts and cash withdrawals to obscure the trail. Federal Newswire reported that earlier filings listed victims that included a financial services firm in Oregon, a New Jersey township and other commercial operations that sent payments to fake accounts.
Legal repercussions
The indictment alleged conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money‑laundering, offenses that can carry up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 per count. As Lone Star Standard reported, those potential penalties reflect the gravity prosecutors assigned to the scheme in their filings.
What’s next for victims and investigators
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also posted the announcement on social media; the office’s post is available on X. Court filings list the FBI tip line for information about fugitive Destini Godfrey as 713‑693‑5000, and prosecutors said they will continue to pursue leads and work to return funds to victims.
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