By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Edikan Adiakpan, a 33-year-old Nigerian, has been arrested in the United States for his alleged role in a large-scale business email compromise and money laundering scheme targeting organizations across at least eight states, including a California-based medical research group that supports military veterans.
Adiakpan is facing a three-count indictment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and operating an unlicensed money transmission business.
According to authorities, Adiakpan and his co-conspirators used fake emails to deceive victims into transferring funds into accounts they controlled.
The illicit proceeds were then laundered through multiple accounts and converted into cashier’s checks.
Adiakpan allegedly cashed these checks and retained a portion as his fee.
Another Nigerian, 26-year-old Ayobami Omoniyi, has already been charged in connection with the same scheme and is awaiting sentencing.
If convicted, Adiakpan could face up to 20 years in prison for the fraud and money laundering charges, five years for the unlicensed money transmission offense, and fines of up to $250,000 for each conviction.
The investigation was led by the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation division.
