A Nigerian man living in Houston, Texas, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for laundering proceeds from an online fraud scheme that targeted more than 10 victims in the United States.
A United States federal court has sentenced 35-year-old Nigerian national Edikan Adiakpan to two years and six months in prison for his role in laundering money obtained through a business email compromise (BEC) fraud scheme.
Adiakpan was sentenced on Thursday by US District Judge Andrew Hanen, who also ordered him to serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
The sentence was announced in a statement issued on October 8, 2026, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
According to the statement, Adiakpan pleaded guilty to the offence on May 12, acknowledging his involvement in a scheme that operated between 2020 and 2022.
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How the Fraud Scheme Operated
Court proceedings revealed that Adiakpan used a company under his control, known as Akama Lifestyle, which he advertised as a luxury car service, to facilitate the movement of illicit funds generated by fraudsters.
Investigators said the company was used to receive and process money obtained from victims of business email compromise scams, with Adiakpan retaining a percentage of the proceeds as commission.
The scheme involved fraudsters sending deceptive emails designed to appear as though they originated from legitimate suppliers and creditors. The emails tricked businesses into transferring payments into bank accounts controlled by members of the criminal network instead of paying their genuine vendors.
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The operation reportedly targeted more than 10 victims across the United States.
Mississippi Company Lost $927,080
One of the victims was a small utility trailer company based in Mississippi, which was deceived into transferring $927,080 intended for its trailer supplier to the Houston-based fraud network.
The devastating financial impact of the loss was highlighted in a victim impact statement read during Adiakpan’s sentencing.
US authorities disclosed that Adiakpan deposited and cashed several cashier’s checks made payable to himself and his exotic car company. The checks contained $359,000 belonging to the victims of the fraud scheme.
The case demonstrates how business email compromise scams can exploit ordinary business transactions, redirecting legitimate payments into accounts controlled by fraudsters and their associates.
Another Nigerian Also Sentenced
Adiakpan was not the only Nigerian national prosecuted in connection with the scheme.
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The US Attorney’s Office disclosed that 27-year-old Ayobami Omoniyi had earlier been sentenced on March 24 to 32 months in federal prison for his role in the same operation.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Houston Division, its Bryan Resident Agency, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit.
Assistant US Attorney Belinda Beek prosecuted the case.
At the time of his arrest, Adiakpan had temporary legal status in the United States, according to the authorities.
US Authorities Intensify Action Against Financial Fraud
Business email compromise fraud remains a significant threat to companies that rely on electronic communication and bank transfers to conduct business. Criminals often impersonate trusted business partners to manipulate payment instructions and divert funds.
The prosecution of Adiakpan and Omoniyi highlights the role of financial investigations in tracing proceeds from online fraud and holding individuals involved in moving illicit funds accountable.
The sentences also underscore the legal consequences of participating in money laundering schemes, including those involving funds generated by cyber-enabled fraud.
