US Court Convicts Nigerian Man of $7.5 Million Wire Fraud

A United States federal court has convicted a Nigerian national for his role in a sophisticated $7.5 million wire fraud scheme, marking another major case in the global fight against cyber-enabled financial crimes.

The defendant, Olusegun Samson Adejorin, was found guilty after a jury trial in a federal court in Maryland, where prosecutors detailed how he orchestrated an elaborate email compromise operation that targeted charitable organisations in the United States.

According to court proceedings, the fraud was carried out between June and August 2020.

Adejorin allegedly gained unauthorised access to internal email accounts of employees working with two U.S.-based charities. He then registered fake internet domains designed to closely resemble the organisations’ legitimate email addresses, allowing him to impersonate staff members without immediate detection.

Using these spoofed emails, Adejorin sent fraudulent requests authorising the transfer of large sums of money from one charity to another. To reinforce the deception, he also sent follow-up emails falsely confirming the legitimacy of the transfers.

The scheme succeeded in diverting more than $7.5 million into bank accounts that were not controlled by the intended beneficiaries.

Investigators revealed that the operation relied on business email compromise tactics, a growing form of cybercrime in which criminals manipulate trusted communication channels to bypass internal controls and authorisation processes.

Adejorin was later arrested outside the United States and extradited to face trial. He was charged with multiple offences, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorised access to protected computer systems.

After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all major counts.

Under U.S. law, the offences carry severe penalties. Adejorin faces lengthy prison terms, including a mandatory sentence for identity theft that must run consecutively to any other punishment.

The court has scheduled sentencing for a later date.

U.S. law enforcement agencies described the conviction as a warning to cybercriminals who exploit digital systems and international borders to carry out financial crimes. Authorities said the case highlights the importance of international cooperation, as well as stronger cybersecurity measures by organisations handling sensitive financial information.

The conviction adds to a growing list of high-profile prosecutions involving cross-border fraud schemes and underscores the increasing determination of U.S. authorities to pursue perpetrators wherever they are located.