Adepoju Babatunde Salako, a 32-year-old from Pennsylvania, faces multiple charges including six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. The charges were announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
The indictment claims that between July 2020 and July 2021, Salako was involved in a scheme to defraud the government through fraudulent applications for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans and unemployment insurance benefits. These applications allegedly resulted in over $5.6 million in illicit gains using more than 1,000 stolen or fake identities. It is alleged that Salako and his co-conspirators transferred these funds through various accounts before spending them or transferring them overseas as currency or goods like cars and solar panels.
Further allegations state that between January 4 and March 20, 2021, Salako submitted about 15 false applications for unemployment benefits to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), using stolen identities. The CDLE reportedly paid out $649 on one claim filed by Salako and an additional $15,431 based on claims from a co-conspirator.
Salako is also accused of submitting fraudulent claims in other states such as Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York. This includes at least ten fraudulent applications for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans using stolen identities and a Paycheck Protection Program loan application under the name Turn-Turn-Turn Woodturning with a stolen identity from Nevada.
The CARES Act was introduced in March 2020 to provide financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. It included programs like the PPP loans administered by the SBA intended to support small businesses with payroll costs among other expenses.
Salako appeared before Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak in Colorado on June 13, 2025. The charges are currently allegations; he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by several agencies including the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and CDLE. Prosecution is being handled by the Economic Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Reports regarding attempted fraud related to COVID-19 can be directed to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via their web complaint form.
