RismadarVoice Reporters, August 13, 2026
A United States federal jury has convicted a 41-year-old Nigerian, Babajide Adesayo, for laundering more than $2.7 million linked to romance fraud and other online scams.
The US Department of Justice announced the conviction in a statement published on Wednesday, saying Mr Adesayo was found guilty on August 6 after an eight-day trial.
Mr 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 department, the offences occurred 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 persuaded to send money for fabricated reasons, including business equipment, medical expenses, injuries and alleged imprisonment.
Court evidence showed that some victims were instructed to send substantial sums, including retirement savings and other personal income, to business accounts linked to Mr Adesayo’s co-defendant, Efemena Igbe, also a Nigerian.
The Justice Department said Ms Igbe allegedly transferred most of the funds to Mr Adesayo’s automobile business, disguising the payments as money for vehicle purchases.
Investigators said Mr Adesayo subsequently transferred a significant portion of the money to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria and other countries.
Over about 17 months, prosecutors alleged that Mr Adesayo received and moved more than $2.7 million belonging to victims of the fraud scheme.
The prosecution also alleged that he continued to launder money after his arrest in June 2024 while awaiting trial.
According to the Justice Department, some victims transferred money directly to accounts associated with Mr Adesayo’s businesses, while others sent funds to third-party accounts before the money was eventually routed to him.
Prosecutors said Mr Adesayo typically withdrew or transferred the funds shortly after receiving them.
His bond was later revoked after authorities uncovered the alleged post-arrest activities. He has remained in federal custody since March 2, 2026.
Mr Adesayo is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20, 2026, before US 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 US Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges but are not binding on the judge.
