Federal attorneys announced four people pleaded guilty Tuesday to participating in an international mail and wire fraud scheme originating in Nigeria and targeting elderly and vulnerable people.
37-year-old Fatai Okunola of Kalamazoo was charged along with three co-conspirators in Illinois and Texas.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten says the defendants used modern technology including the internet and social media to prey on victims who lost their retirement savings, took loans against their homes, or suffered other financial damage totaling more than $2 million from 2017 to 2022.
Court records show the defendants conspired with others in Nigeria to defraud people in the U.S. through a variety of schemes.
Okunola also pleaded guilty to making false statements on his application to become a U.S. citizen, and money laundering related to helping purchase vehicles with the stolen money and exporting them to Nigeria.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and possible deportation.
All defendants will be ordered to pay restitution to their victims and will be sentenced January 14.
Individuals who believe they may be a victim of this fraud are urged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A list of post office boxes, email addresses, and fraudulent names used in this case are posted on its website.
