TheUnited States of America has arraigned 11 Nigerians over another $6m allegedbank fraud. This is coming barely
two weeks after six other Nigerians were indicted for alleged involvement inover $6m Internet fraud.According to a statement by the US Attorney’s Office, District of NewJersey, the defendants are Sulaiman Dosunmu, 39; Tunde Adeowo, 40; MuritalaAdeowo, 55; Ayanniyi Alayande, 47; Ahmmed Ponle, 41; Margiettu Kamu, 34; RafiatSarumi, 36; Babatunde Oke, 40; Adekunle Owolabi, 49; Olayinka Olaseinde, 42;Olugbenga Oyedele, 47.
They were charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to commit bankfraud in Southern New Jersey and South-Eastern Pennsylvania over the course offour years, US Attorney, Craig Carpenito said.
They all face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to laundermoney, and aggravated identity theft, and some are charged with additionaloffences for alleged fraud and money laundering.
“The defendants are allegedly members of a Nigeria-based, multi-layered organization that engaged in a massive bank fraud conspiracy in several states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Rhode Island, between June 2016 and March 2020.
“Members of the group stole numerous business checks from the United Statesmail, altered the payee on the checks to a fraudulent name and deposited thechecks in bank accounts that had been opened with forged foreign passportdocuments and fraudulent US visas that matched the names on the stolen checks.
“Members of the organization have used over 400 fraudulent accounts with fake identity documents to defraud the banks.
“The organization also laundered the proceeds of the fraud by several means, including using debit cards to purchase money orders from third-party stores and using those money orders to purchase used automobiles from different automobile auction companies in Pennsylvania,” the charge sheet partly read.