Convicted Nigerian Faces Up to 100 Years in U.S. Prison for $7.5m Wire Fraud

A United States jury has convicted a Nigerian national, Olusegun Samson Adejorin, of multiple counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and unauthorised access to a protected computer.

The conviction was announced on Thursday by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, following the conclusion of Adejorin’s trial.

Adejorin, 32, was extradited from Ghana to the United States to face charges connected to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme involving more than $7 million. He now faces a possible cumulative sentence of over 100 years in federal prison.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Adejorin was found guilty on five counts of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years; one count of unauthorised access to a protected computer, punishable by up to five years; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year prison term to be served consecutively.

Evidence presented at trial showed that between June and August 2020, Adejorin orchestrated a scheme targeting a Maryland-based charitable organisation that provided investment services to other non-profit bodies.

Investigators said he also defrauded a second victim, a charitable organisation in New York, by illegally accessing its employees’ email accounts and impersonating staff members to authorise fraudulent financial transactions.

Through the use of spoofed domain names and compromised email accounts, Adejorin allegedly submitted false withdrawal requests and sent fraudulent confirmations, ultimately diverting more than $7.5 million into bank accounts not belonging to the victim organisation.

The Department of Justice said the fraud caused significant financial losses and exploited trust within the charitable sector, underscoring the growing threat of cyber-enabled financial crimes. Adejorin’s sentencing has been scheduled for April 10, 2026, when the court will determine the final prison term based on federal sentencing guidelines and the severity of the offences.