A 26-year-old Nigerian citizen has been sentenced to 32 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $202,273.80 in restitution for laundering proceeds from a wire fraud scheme, according to a March 24 announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address international financial crimes that target victims through sophisticated email schemes. The sentencing underscores the seriousness with which such offenses are prosecuted.
Ayobami Omoniyi pleaded guilty on August 19, 2024, to charges related to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business that laundered funds obtained from business email compromise victims, including an Australian fishing company. During the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen, it was revealed that Omoniyi had engaged in criminal activity since arriving in the United States and acted as a recruiter for others involved in the scheme.
Omoniyi admitted as part of his plea agreement that he moved fraudulent funds through multiple bank accounts and transmitted proceeds for a fee to other conspirators. He is expected to be removed from the United States after serving his sentence and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was conducted by FBI-Bryan Resident Agency and Houston Police Department with assistance from the Australian Federal Police; Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas has included notable figures such as Alamdar Hamdani and Ryan Patrick among its former leaders according to the official history page. The office operates out of several locations including Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville as described on its official website.
Serving under the Attorney General as part of the Department of Justice according to its official website, this office employs more than 200 attorneys covering over nine million residents across 43 counties as detailed on its official site. Its primary focus is prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil cases involving government interests according to its website.
