By Sunday Ameh
A 41-year-old Nigerian, Babajide Adesayo, has been convicted by a federal jury in the United States for laundering more than $2.7m linked to victims of romance fraud and other online scams.
The United States Department of Justice disclosed this in a statement, saying Adesayo was found guilty on August 6, 2026, following an eight-day trial.
Adesayo, a resident of Douglasville, Georgia, was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering.
According to the US authorities, the offences were committed between April 2020 and September 2021, when fraudsters allegedly targeted elderly victims through online relationships.
The victims were reportedly deceived by individuals posing as friends, business associates or romantic partners before being asked to send money for fabricated reasons, including business equipment, medical expenses, injuries and alleged imprisonment.
Court evidence showed that victims were directed to transfer substantial sums, including retirement savings and other personal income, to business accounts linked to Adesayo’s co-defendant, Efemena Igbe, also a Nigerian.
The prosecution alleged that Igbe subsequently transferred much of the money to Adesayo under the guise of payments for vehicles purchased from his automobile business.
Investigators said Adesayo later moved substantial portions of the funds to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria and other countries.
The US Department of Justice said that over a period of 17 months, Adesayo received and moved more than $2.7m allegedly belonging to victims of the fraud scheme.
Prosecutors further alleged that he continued to launder money after his arrest in June 2024 while awaiting trial.
According to the authorities, some victims transferred money directly into accounts associated with Adesayo’s businesses, while others sent funds to third-party accounts before the money was eventually routed to him.
The Department of Justice said Adesayo typically withdrew or transferred the funds shortly after receiving them.
His bond was subsequently revoked after authorities uncovered the alleged post-arrest activities, and he has remained in federal custody since March 2, 2026.
Adesayo is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark H. Cohen.
The Justice Department said he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the two conspiracy convictions and up to 10 years for each transactional money-laundering conviction.
He could also face an additional consecutive sentence of up to 10 years for allegedly committing offences while on release.
The department, however, noted that the final sentence would be determined by the court after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges but are not binding on the judge.
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