Yesterday, Abdul Waris Akinsanya, 26, a Nigerian citizen residing in Oklahoma City, was handed an 18-month federal prison sentence for his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud, as declared by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On May 4, 2023, Akinsanya was formally charged with conspiracy to defraud. Court documents state that in May 2020, Akinsanya used a false identity and a forged passport to open an account at City National Bank.
The case details reveal that Akinsanya’s accomplices utilized a fictitious online persona to deceive a victim from Alabama into mailing $2,650 in money orders. The scam, executed under the guise of a romance scam, is a method wherein perpetrators establish fake identities to exploit victims’ trust for financial gain.
Subsequently, Akinsanya deposited the money orders into the City National Bank account. On October 12, 2023, he pleaded guilty to these charges, acknowledging his involvement in setting up bank accounts under false identities and depositing funds acquired through romance scams, with a portion of the proceeds being retained for his role in the operation.
During the sentencing session yesterday, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton imposed an 18-month federal prison term on Akinsanya, to be followed by three years of supervised release, along with an order to pay $2,650 in restitution.
In justifying the sentence, the court highlighted the complexity of the scheme and the gravity of the offense.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Farrior prosecuted the case.
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