Tolulope Bodunde, along with Okechuckwu Osuji, was sentenced to a combined 10 years in prison for their involvement in a business email compromise scheme.
The scheme targeted U.S. companies and individuals, leading to a loss of about $6 million. Bodunde received a two-year sentence, while Osuji was sentenced to eight years.
- Scheme Details: The duo orchestrated a business email compromise scheme targeting U.S. companies and individuals, leading to a loss of about $6 million. They posed as trustworthy entities in electronic communications to deceive their victims into transferring money into bank accounts they controlled.
- Victims: The victims included a Connecticut-based financial company, a Colorado-based lending company, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organization, a New York-based food and beverage company, and many others. Elderly individuals were also targeted through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules.
- Modus Operandi: They used both willing and unwitting “money mules” to receive fraud proceeds in their bank accounts. These funds were then transferred to accounts under their control or converted to cash for further transfer.
- Legal Proceedings: Bodunde was arrested on August 7, 2020, and pleaded guilty to wire fraud on February 16, 2024. He was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Osuji was found guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft offenses and is awaiting sentencing.
- Restitution: Judge Meyer ordered Bodunde to pay restitution totaling $494,939 to three victims of the scheme.
This case was investigated by the FBI New Haven Field Office and the Stamford Police Department, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Royal Malaysia Police.
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