Nigerian Man Admits to Fraud in US, Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison

Oluseun Omole, a 57-year-old Nigerian man, has admitted to committing fraud in the United States. The press release by Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated that Omole pleaded guilty before U.S. Judge Katharine H. Parker on charges related to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Between February 2018 and March 2023, Omole was involved in a criminal operation known as the Enterprise, which was based in Nigeria. This Enterprise orchestrated a series of scams aimed at defrauding thousands of victims in the United States and other locations.

The scams primarily targeted consumer electronics, such as smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, and tablets, with a total value exceeding $12 million. The members of the Enterprise employed various tactics, including romance scams, where they would deceive victims by pretending to have romantic intentions, gaining their trust, and exploiting their goodwill to convince them to send consumer electronics and money to Omole.

Additionally, they engaged in online marketplace scams, where they would deceive victims by expressing interest in purchasing consumer electronics, falsely claiming to have made payment, and instructing victims to send the items to Omole.

Lastly, they conducted employment scams by posting fake job advertisements online and tricking unsuspecting victims into believing they were hired. Victims were then instructed to send electronics to Omole under the pretense that they were required for the job. Collectively, these fraudulent activities involving electronics are referred to as the Fraudulent Electronics Scams.

During the relevant period, Omole was the owner and operator of a business corporation that purported to be a distributor, re-seller, and supplier of satellite communications equipment. In actuality, Tobylink functioned as a conduit through which Omole illicitly obtained goods from victims of the Enterprise, repackaged them, and shipped them to co-conspirators in Nigeria. Throughout his involvement in the scheme, Omole received and dispatched over $12 million worth of consumer electronics and other items to fellow Enterprise members, in return for substantial fees charged by Omole.

Omole, aged 57, from Sugar Land, Texas, pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Omole agreed to pay restitution as determined by the Court, forfeit a sum of U.S. currency as ordered by the Court, and surrender various consumer electronics and other goods seized by law enforcement.

The potential maximum sentence in this matter is set by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the defendant’s sentencing will be at the discretion of a judge. Omole’s sentencing is set for July 30, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman.

Mr. Williams commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and expressed gratitude to Homeland Security Investigations for their support during the investigation.

The prosecution of this case is overseen by the Office’s General Crimes Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry J. Fang leading the prosecution.