Nigerian Man Re-Arrested in U.S. Over New Fraud Allegations

A Nigerian national previously convicted in a U.S. federal fraud case has been re-arrested by immigration authorities over fresh allegations of forgery and attempted escape.

Abdulwaris Akinsanya, 28, was taken into custody by officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Dallas. Authorities said the arrest followed an incident in which Akinsanya allegedly attempted to flee in a vehicle. Specific details regarding the date and location of the arrest were not disclosed.

ICE officials confirmed that Akinsanya has prior convictions, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and fleeing law enforcement. He had previously served an 18-month sentence in federal prison for his role in a romance scam operation.

According to court records, Akinsanya pleaded guilty in late 2023 to conspiracy charges after investigators uncovered that he used forged identification documents including a fake passport to open a fraudulent bank account. That account was later used to collect funds obtained from scam victims, including a case involving a victim in Alabama who sent $2,650 through a money order. Investigators said Akinsanya kept part of the proceeds for himself.

During his sentencing in March 2024, the presiding judge noted the complex and deceptive nature of the scheme. In addition to prison time, Akinsanya was ordered to repay the defrauded amount and was placed on supervised release for three years.

It remains unclear whether his recent arrest was due to a violation of supervised release or a separate crime committed after serving his sentence. His original conviction stemmed from investigations led by the FBI’s Oklahoma City office.