Nigerian PhD student’s guilty Plea Exposes $1 Million Romance Scam in US

Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Immigration Violations in U.S.

A 24-year-old man from Nigeria, Mercy Ojedeji, has pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and the unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents during proceedings in a U.S. District Court in St. Louis, Missouri. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced his plea on Thursday, April 10.

Ojedeji admitted to obtaining a student visa illegally in order to enroll in the University of Missouri’s chemistry PhD program for the Fall 2023 semester. He confessed to utilizing forged academic transcripts, bogus recommendation letters, a fabricated resume, and a phony English proficiency report to secure the visa.

Once he acquired the visa, Ojedeji obtained a Social Security card, a Missouri driver’s license, a bank account, and housing accommodations. Additionally, he benefited from a stipend and tuition waiver from the university, totaling over $49,000. However, after failing to attend classes or engage in any research activities, he was dismissed from the program in January 2024, which led to the cancellation of his student visa. Despite this, authorities allege that Ojedeji continued to use the invalid visa to secure a state driver’s license on February 26, 2024.

The investigation into Ojedeji began after the U.S. Postal Inspection Service received reports of victims being defrauded through a romance scheme, leading to packages of cash and gift cards being sent to his partner’s residence. Authorities linked a total of 35 Express Mail packages, sent between December 19, 2023, and January 4, 2024, to Nigerian IP addresses.

During a court-authorized search of Ojedeji’s home, investigators discovered packages related to a Nigerian romance fraud operation. Evidence showed that 193 packages were delivered to the home during his relationship with the woman, with 17 of these packages containing $94,150 in cash and gift cards. Prosecutors estimate that the total intended loss from these schemes exceeds $1 million.

Despite his guilty plea regarding the immigration and wire fraud charges, Ojedeji has denied any involvement in the romance scam. He is set to be sentenced on July 10.

The wire fraud charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while the immigration fraud charge could lead to an additional 10 years and a similar financial penalty. The final decision on losses and penalties will rest with the judge at the time of sentencing.