PROVIDENCE, RI - Two Nigerian nationals have been detained in federal custody in Rhode Island on charges they allegedly participated in a large-scale counterfeit bank fraud and passport scheme, with an intended loss of more than $850,000.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Michael S. Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for New England, announced the arrest today of Olugboyega Akinloye Fasanya, 35, of Woonsocket, and Anthony Chidozie Ezike, 35, of Pawtucket, on a federal criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and use of counterfeit passports. Fasanya and Ezike made initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Providence today and were ordered detained by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.
According to an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, it is alleged that beginning in June 2015, Fasanya orchestrated a scheme that defrauded more than ten banks in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and elsewhere by acquiring and altering originally lawfully passed checks between commercial entities. The checks were altered to be made out to aliases used by Fasanya, Ezike and others, and deposited into bank accounts opened using the aliases. In many instances, the funds were removed from the accounts prior to the fraud being detected by the financial institutions.
It is also alleged that the scheme involved the sending of unauthorized wire transfers into accounts opened using the false identities, followed by rapid withdrawals. It is alleged that the defendants used counterfeit passports from Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa as forms of identification when opening various bank accounts used to execute the scheme.
According to the affidavit, it is alleged that participants in the scheme deposited fraudulent checks and wires totaling approximately $853,000 and successfully obtained approximately $368,000 through withdrawals and debit purchases.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Woonsocket, Pawtucket and Warwick Police Departments.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
