Nigerian Man Convicted In US Over $2.7m Romance Scam, Money Laundering

A Nigerian man, Babajide Adesayo, has been convicted by a federal jury in the United States for laundering more than $2.7 million obtained from victims of romance fraud and other online scams.

Adesayo, 41, of Douglasville, Georgia, was convicted on August 6, 2026, following an eight-day trial in which he was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering.

US authorities said the victims, many of them elderly people, were deceived by online fraudsters who posed as friends, business associates or romantic partners before making false claims that they needed money for business equipment, medical treatment or other emergencies.

According to prosecutors, the victims transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars, including retirement savings, to business accounts controlled by Adesayo’s co-defendant, Nigerian national Efemena Igbe.

Igbe allegedly transferred most of the funds to Adesayo and falsely described the transactions as payments for vehicles from Adesayo’s automotive business.

Adesayo then allegedly moved most of the money to accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria and other countries in an attempt to conceal the proceeds and make recovery difficult.

Over a 17-month period between April 2020 and September 2021, prosecutors said Adesayo received and moved more than $2.7 million in stolen funds.

US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg described Adesayo as a key member of a transnational network that targeted vulnerable and elderly victims.

“Adesayo was a key member of a complex, transnational network that preyed upon elderly victims and siphoned their retirement savings overseas, mainly to China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria, to make recovery impossible,” Hertzberg said.

Authorities said Adesayo continued laundering money even after his June 2024 arrest and release on bond.

While awaiting trial, victims allegedly continued sending funds to his business accounts or accounts controlled by associates, after which he quickly withdrew or transferred the money to other accounts.

His bond was subsequently revoked after the new criminal conduct was discovered, and he has remained in federal custody since March 2, 2026.

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham said the conviction demonstrated the agency’s determination to pursue people who target vulnerable victims.

“Adesayo helped steal millions from vulnerable victims, including elderly people who lost their hard-earned savings,” Graham said.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/atlanta-man-convicted-laundering-over-27-million-stolen-victims-online-fraud-0

Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank said the case also highlighted the role of financial facilitators in enabling international fraud networks.

“Those who help transnational fraud networks move stolen money will be held accountable,” Schrank said.

Adesayo faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the two conspiracy counts and up to 10 years on each of the 16 transactional money laundering counts.

He also faces a consecutive sentence of up to 10 years for committing offences while on release.

His sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2026, before US District Judge Mark H. Cohen.

The case was investigated by the FBI and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the US Secret Service and law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire, Mississippi and New York.