A Nigerian national based in the United States, Samson Omoniyi, has been arrested along with eight others for alleged involvement in a major money laundering and fraud operation.
If convicted, Omoniyi faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The arrests were part of a multi-state investigation into a long-running money laundering scheme that spanned Tennessee, Texas, and other U.S. jurisdictions.
The indictment, which was unsealed on Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, charges Omoniyi and his co-defendants with conspiracy to engage in money laundering.
They are accused of laundering millions of dollars obtained through internet fraud, including business email compromise schemes targeting businesses and individuals in both the U.S. and abroad.
The statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday highlighted that the defendants, including Omoniyi, were part of a money laundering organisation that operated since November 2016.
This group allegedly used structured methods to launder proceeds from internet fraud, using front companies to conceal the ill-gotten funds and enrich themselves.
The indictment names nine individuals in total: Samson A. Omoniyi, 43, of Houston; Misha L. Cooper, 50, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Robert A. Cooper, 66, of Murfreesboro; Carlesha L. Perry, 36, of Houston; Whitney D. Bardley, 30, of Florissant, Missouri; Lauren O. Guidry, 32, of Houston; Caira Y. Osby, 44, of Houston; Dazai S. Harris, 34, of Murfreesboro; and Edward D. Peebles, 35, of Murfreesboro.
The statement noted that the conspirators recruited individuals to serve as “money mules,” directing them to launder money derived from various fraud schemes.
These mules were allegedly instructed to move the proceeds of fraud through various channels, including sham companies, to conceal the origin of the funds.
As part of the indictment, it was revealed that the money laundering operation had laundered more than $20 million in fraud proceeds, enriching the members of the conspiracy.
The case underscores the growing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat financial crimes linked to international fraud, particularly online scams targeting businesses and individuals.
Each defendant, including Omoniyi, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the statement concluded.
In a related report, the U.S. Justice Department recently announced the conviction of two other Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, who were sentenced to a combined 30 years in prison for defrauding U.S. citizens out of $3.5 million.
They were involved in romance scams and false inheritance schemes, targeting victims with promises of large sums of money in exchange for upfront payments.
The ongoing crackdown on internet fraud and money laundering continues to highlight the U.S. government’s commitment to addressing cybercrime, particularly as it relates to international actors.