Nigerian PhD student admits to fraud charges in US
Story from Hamzat Ibrahim
Mercy Ojedeji, a 24-year-old Nigerian man, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and fraudulent immigration document charges in the United States.
Ojedeji entered the plea in a US District Court in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 9, 2024, as confirmed by a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
In his admission, Ojedeji acknowledged securing a student visa by providing falsified academic transcripts, fake recommendation letters, a fabricated resume, and a doctored English proficiency report.
This fraudulent visa allowed him to enrol in the University of Missouri’s chemistry PhD programme in the Fall of 2023. As a result, he was granted a stipend, housing, and a tuition waiver valued at over $49,000.
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However, Ojedeji was dismissed from the programme in January 2024 for failing to attend classes or partake in research activities. Despite his visa being terminated, he fraudulently used the invalid visa to obtain a state driver’s licence on February 26, 2024.
The investigation began when authorities received complaints from victims of a romance fraud scheme, who had sent packages of cash and gift cards to Ojedeji’s partner’s address.
Further investigation revealed that 35 Express Mail packages, sent between December 19, 2023, and January 4, 2024, were traced to Nigerian IP addresses, leading to a court-approved search of Ojedeji’s partner’s home.
During the search, authorities found 193 packages related to the Nigerian romance scam, with 17 containing $94,150 in cash and gift cards. Prosecutors estimate the total intended loss at over $1 million.
Though Ojedeji has pleaded guilty to immigration and wire fraud charges, he denies involvement in the romance scam.
He will be sentenced on July 10, 2024, with the wire fraud charge carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the immigration fraud charge could add up to 10 additional years and a similar fine.
The judge will determine the final losses and penalties during sentencing.
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