TAMPA, FL – U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Adetunji Adejumo and Ibrahim Jinadu have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection to a large-scale transnational tax fraud scheme. Both individuals now face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A third participant, Olufemi Odedeyi, based in London, United Kingdom, remains pending extradition for his involvement in the operation. The three were arrested in September 2021.
According to the plea agreements, the international conspirators, including Odedeyi, gained unauthorized access to computer servers of U.S. businesses. They stole personally identifying information of U.S. residents and used that data to file false and fraudulent federal tax forms to seek income tax refunds from the IRS.
Residing in the United States, Adejumo and Jinadu collected the fraud proceeds directed to prepaid debit cards in their possession, or to bank accounts they controlled or had access to. They then transferred a portion of the fraud proceeds to other members of the conspiracy. The fraudulent filings claimed millions of dollars in refunds that were not entitled to the perpetrators.