The Federal Bureau of Investigation has apprehended Oluwaseun Adekoya, a Nigerian national described by authorities as a prolific cyber fraudster, in connection with an elaborate scheme that defrauded victims of more than $2 million.
Adekoya, 38, who had been on the run for months, was arrested at a residence in Brooklyn following a coordinated operation by FBI agents and the U.S. Marshals Service. Law enforcement officials said the suspect used a network of fake businesses and email phishing campaigns to steal personal information and siphon funds from dozens of victims across the United States.
Court documents unsealed on Monday reveal that Adekoya allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated wire fraud and identity theft ring, earning him the moniker “King of Fraud” among associates. Investigators traced the illicit proceeds through multiple shell accounts before locating Adekoya’s hideout.
“This arrest is a major breakthrough in our ongoing efforts to dismantle international fraud networks targeting Americans,” FBI Special Agent-in-Charge, Mark Reynolds, said in a statement. “Adekoya’s schemes caused immense financial and emotional harm to innocent people.”
Adekoya faces multiple federal charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison. He is expected to be arraigned in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York later this week.
Federal authorities urged members of the public to remain vigilant against suspicious emails and report any suspected fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
