A Nigerian national, Edikan Adiakpan, popularly known for his lavish lifestyle, has been arrested in Houston, Texas, for allegedly orchestrating a multi-million dollar business email compromise (BEC) and money laundering scheme that spanned at least eight U.S. states. The 33-year-old was apprehended following a detailed three-count federal indictment issued on June 11, sending shockwaves through both U.S. law enforcement circles and the Nigerian diaspora community.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei confirmed the arrest, revealing that Adiakpan and his accomplices masterminded a sophisticated fraud ring in 2021. They allegedly sent deceptive emails impersonating trusted vendors and corporate entities, successfully duping unsuspecting victims, most notably a California-based research institution that supports American veterans, into wiring large sums of money into bank accounts controlled by the syndicate.
Federal prosecutors stated that once the funds were received, the group laundered the money through a complex network of financial channels, including layering transactions via multiple accounts and converting the stolen money into cashier’s checks to disguise its origin. Adiakpan is accused of personally cashing some of these checks and pocketing a portion of the stolen funds as commission.
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The indictment, which paints a chilling portrait of cyber-enabled financial fraud, also names another Nigerian suspect, 26-year-old Ayobami Omoniyi, who has already been indicted and is currently awaiting sentencing. Authorities believe the operation caused significant financial losses and highlight it as one of the more elaborate BEC schemes in recent years.
If found guilty, Adiakpan could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and money laundering, in addition to a five-year sentence for conspiracy to transmit unlawful funds. Each charge carries a maximum fine of $250,000, underscoring the serious legal consequences attached to high-level cybercrime.
The investigation is being handled jointly by the FBI’s Houston Division and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Christine Lu, who emphasized the importance of cracking down on global fraud networks exploiting the digital space to target vulnerable organizations and institutions.
