Nigerian Duo Found Guilty of $560,000 Romance Scam
Two Nigerian nationals, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja and Abel Adeyi Daramola, have been found guilty in the United States for their roles in a $560,000 international romance scam. The duo now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years each in federal prison.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the verdict on January 6, 2025, following a four-day trial. According to the statement, a federal jury returned the guilty verdict after less than three hours of deliberation.
Court records reveal that the fraudulent scheme began in January 2016, when a fictitious online profile under the name “Glenn Brown” was created on the dating site eHarmony.com. The fake persona was used to lure a victim from Albuquerque, New Mexico, into a fabricated romantic relationship. Over the course of 15 months, the victim was deceived into believing that financial assistance was necessary for “Glenn Brown” to complete a supposed construction project in Malaysia and safely return to the U.S.
Between January 2016 and April 2017, the victim transferred $560,000 across multiple accounts in the U.S., Canada, and Malaysia. One notable transaction occurred on September 27, 2016, when $28,000 was wired to an account registered under “Daramola Cars” at Woodforest Bank. Daramola subsequently transferred $18,000 to a seafood importer in Denmark and issued a $14,000 cashier’s check.
Daramola denied involvement, but investigators discovered incriminating evidence on his phone, including WhatsApp messages and texts that tied him to the operation. These communications revealed his role in providing accounts for fraudulent schemes, particularly romance scams.
Ogunlaja’s role involved receiving fraudulent funds through his Bank of America account. In March 2016, the victim deposited $20,000 in cash on two separate occasions into Ogunlaja’s account, as directed by “Glenn Brown.” Ogunlaja then withdrew the money and transferred funds to Daramola.
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Both men were convicted and have been ordered to remain on conditional release until sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. Under federal law, they face up to 20 years each in prison, with no possibility of parole.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, with U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and FBI Special Agent Raul Bujanda announcing the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña is handling the prosecution.
This case highlights the devastating consequences of online scams and reinforces the need for vigilance in digital interactions.
Content Credit| Ajibola Emmanuel Adebayo
Picture Credit | https://leadership.ng/
