A federal jury in the United States has convicted a Nigerian man for a complex wire fraud scheme. Olusegun Samson Adejorin targeted major charitable organizations. He now faces a possible prison sentence of over one hundred years.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the guilty verdict on Thursday. Kelly O. Hayes is the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. Hayes's office led the prosecution. The conviction follows Adejorin's extradition from Ghana to face the charges.
Adejorin, aged 32, was found guilty on multiple serious counts. The charges include five counts of wire fraud. He was also convicted for unauthorized computer access. A final conviction was for aggravated identity theft.
Legal experts explain the potential sentence is a maximum under law. Each wire fraud count carries up to twenty years in prison. The computer access charge adds a possible five years. The identity theft charge requires a mandatory two-year term.
This mandatory term must run consecutively to any other sentence. In total, the statutory maximum exceeds a century. The actual sentence will be decided by a federal judge. Sentencing is currently scheduled for April 10, 2026.
Court evidence showed the scheme operated in mid-2020. It ran between June and August of that year. The plot involved two separate charitable victims. Both organizations provide investment services to other non-profits.
One charity was based in Maryland. The other was located in New York. Prosecutors said Adejorin used sophisticated digital methods. He first gained access to email accounts of employees at the New York charity.
He then used that access to impersonate trusted staff members. This impersonation was key to his plan. He registered internet domain names that closely spoofed the charities' real domains. These fake domains made his fraudulent emails appear legitimate.
Posing as an employee from the New York charity, he contacted the Maryland charity. His fake emails requested large withdrawals of the New York charity's invested funds. To complete the fraud, he needed fake approval.
Adejorin also hacked into the email accounts of the Maryland charity's staff. From these accounts, he sent confirmation emails. These messages falsely approved the fraudulent withdrawal requests he had sent. The elaborate trick worked.
The Maryland charity, believing both requests were valid, transferred the money. More than seven and a half million dollars was sent. The funds went to bank accounts controlled by Adejorin. The accounts were not associated with the victim charity.
The case highlights the growing threat of business email compromise schemes. These scams often target organizations with large financial accounts. They rely on technical skill and social manipulation. The goal is to trick employees into sending money to criminals.
International cooperation was vital to this case. Adejorin was arrested in Ghana. U.S. authorities then secured his extradition. His trial took place in a federal court in Maryland.
The prosecution team detailed the complex digital trail. They presented evidence of the spoofed domains and email intrusions. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after considering the evidence.
This Nigerian fraud case represents a significant victory for U.S. cybercrime prosecutors. It shows their ability to pursue criminals across international borders. The substantial wire fraud sentence sought is meant to serve as a strong deterrent.
Authorities hope the case raises awareness among financial institutions. All organizations are urged to verify payment requests carefully. They should use multiple communication channels for confirmation. Training staff to recognize phishing attempts is also critical.
The sentencing in April will be the final step. A federal judge will consider the severity of the crimes. The judge will also review sentencing guidelines and other factors. Adejorin remains in custody until that hearing.