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By John Ogunsemore
A Nigerian green card holder, Ayobami Omoniyi, will be deported from the United States after completing a 32-month prison sentence for his role in a $202,000 money laundering scheme.
The US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas made the announcement in a statement published on the US Department of Justice’s website.
Acting US Attorney John G.E. Marck said 26-year-old Omoniyi was sentenced for laundering fraud proceeds through an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Omoniyi, who pleaded guilty on August 19, 2024, was ordered by US District Judge Andrew S. Hanen to serve 32 months in federal prison and pay $202,273.80 in restitution.
“Not a US citizen, he is expected to be removed from the country following his imprisonment,” the statement reads in part.
Prosecutors said in 2021, Omoniyi and others operated an unlicensed money transmitting business that received and transferred funds from business email compromise victims, including a fishing company in Australia.
Victims received spoofed emails that appeared to come from legitimate businesses and were tricked into sending payments to accounts conspirators controlled.
At the hearing, the court heard additional information that Omoniyi had been committing crimes since arriving in the United States and that he had been a recruiter for the scheme.
“As part of his plea, Omoniyi admitted he moved money through multiple bank accounts.
The funds originated from fraudsters involved in a business email compromise wire fraud scheme.
“Omoniyi also acknowledged receiving victims’ funds and, for a fee, transmitting the fraud proceeds to others.
“He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future,” the statement further reads.
