A Nigerian-born United States citizen, Oladapo Olakekan Fadugba, 40, has been charged with $690,000 wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement related to naturalization.
The US Attorney for the District of Florida, Gregory W. Kehoe, announced the indictment in a statement on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
If convicted on all counts, Fadugba faces a maximum penalty of 27 years in federal prison.
The indictment also notifies Fadugba that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $400,000, which represents the approximate proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
According to the indictment beginning on October 30, 2020, and ending no later than July 11, 2023, Fadugba had more than $690,000 of Department of Veterans Affairs funds, intended for reimbursement to a large local healthcare provider, transferred to his own personal bank accounts.
Fadugba then wrote himself, or businesses associated with him, checks that were then transferred to other bank accounts owned by him. It is alleged that to procure the transfers, Fadugba used the identification of another individual.
The indictment further alleges that Fadugba, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria, made a false statement under oath during his naturalization proceeding. Fadugba falsely stated he had not committed any crime or offense for which he had not been arrested.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that the defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty, the statement noted.
The case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the U.S. Treasury Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service.
It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry.
