Federal authorities announced on Apr. 15 that indictments have been unsealed charging Akinade Adedeji Raheem of Georgia and Abayomi Quadri Eletu, a resident of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and other crimes related to an alleged scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using stolen identities.
The case highlights efforts by federal prosecutors to address complex financial crimes that impact both taxpayers and government agencies. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia serves as the principal federal law enforcement agency in its region, coordinating cases with nationwide and international dimensions according to the official website.
According to U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, court documents allege that Raheem and Eletu conspired with others from 2018 through 2023 to obtain personal information from tax professionals and taxpayers by creating online IRS accounts. The indictment states they used this information to file more than 300 false tax returns claiming over $100 million in refunds. Authorities say they redirected taxpayer correspondence by submitting change-of-address requests so that communications would go directly to addresses controlled by the conspirators.
The indictment further alleges that fraudulent refunds were directed onto prepaid debit cards obtained by Raheem at Eletu’s direction. The funds were then laundered through purchases of money orders below reporting thresholds, which were used for buying used cars shipped overseas as well as designer goods.
Eletu was arrested in the United Kingdom at the request of U.S. authorities. Both defendants face multiple charges including conspiracy counts carrying maximum penalties of up to 20 years each for mail/wire fraud and money laundering, plus mandatory sentences for aggravated identity theft.
"An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," said Hertzberg.
The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration with assistance from international partners including authorities in the United Kingdom.
The Northern District of Georgia covers a region serving approximately 7.5 million residents across north Georgia mountains, Atlanta suburbs, and borders with Alabama and the Carolinas according to its official website. The office prioritizes prosecution of threats such as terrorism, human trafficking, civil rights violations while enforcing federal criminal laws as reported on its website.
