A 43-year-old Nigerian, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been extradited from the Republic of Benin to the United States to face federal fees over an alleged $100 million tax refund fraud scheme involving stolen identities.
Raheem was arraigned on Monday and remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending additional courtroom proceedings.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia disclosed this in a press release printed on its official website on Tuesday.
According to the assertion, Raheem allegedly conspired with others to file greater than 300 fraudulent tax returns between 2018 and 2023, in search of over $100 million in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The alleged scheme concerned utilizing the stolen identities of tax professionals and American taxpayers to acquire fraudulent tax refunds, which have been subsequently laundered by means of pay as you go debit playing cards, cash orders and purchases of used automobiles.
“Raheem and his co-conspirators allegedly obtained hundreds of stolen identities, filed fraudulent tax returns using that information, and laundered the proceeds through prepaid debit cards and purchases of used cars that were shipped to Nigeria and other locations,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated.
“The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering. Thanks to the dedication of the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners around the world, Raheem has been extradited to the United States, and his arrest confirms again that no alleged criminal can escape the reach of American justice.”
The assertion recognized Abayomi Quadri Eletu, a resident of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, as one other alleged conspirator within the scheme.
According to prosecutors, Raheem, Eletu and different alleged accomplices obtained delicate private info, together with names, addresses and Social Security numbers, by creating on-line accounts with the IRS and requesting personal taxpayer info.
They allegedly used the data to file fraudulent tax returns. They instructed the IRS to distribute the refunds by way of pay as you go debit playing cards despatched to addresses managed by group members.
Prosecutors additional alleged that Raheem and Eletu laundered a number of the proceeds by buying cash orders in quantities low sufficient to keep away from reporting thresholds.
The cash orders have been allegedly used to purchase used automobiles from public sale web sites, a few of which have been shipped to Nigeria, in addition to designer clothes and different gadgets.
Reacting to the case, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Texas Field Office, Christopher J. Altemus Jr., stated the alleged scheme affected lots of of taxpayers and defrauded the US Treasury.
“Raheem is an alleged co-conspirator in a nationwide identity theft scheme that victimised hundreds of taxpayers. The fraud also stole from the U.S. Treasury, affecting programs that serve us all. These come with repercussions that are long-lasting, which is why we place a global emphasis on arresting and extraditing these individuals,” he stated.
He added, “Protect your tax returns with an identity protection PIN at IRS.gov and know that we are pursuing financial criminals to take back the stolen money and their freedom.”
Similarly, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Colello stated the investigation demonstrated the dedication of US authorities to bringing alleged monetary criminals to justice.
“The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and its partners, along with the prosecutorial work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, demonstrate the commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people,” Colello stated.
The assertion stated US federal legislation enforcement brokers tried to arrest Raheem at his residence in April 2026 however spoke to a person who recognized himself as Raheem by means of a video doorbell and claimed he was not at dwelling.
Less than every week later, investigators reportedly found that Raheem had booked a flight from Mexico City to the Republic of Benin.
He arrived in Benin on April 15, 2026, and was arrested by native authorities pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Benin authorities subsequently extradited him to the United States final week. The US Attorney’s Office described the switch as solely the second extradition from Benin to the United States in historical past.
A federal grand jury within the Northern District of Georgia had indicted Raheem on February 24, 2026, on one rely of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, one rely of conspiracy to commit cash laundering, 14 counts of entry system fraud and 14 counts of aggravated identification theft.
If convicted, he faces a most of 20 years in jail for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one other 20 years for conspiracy to commit cash laundering and as much as 10 years for entry system fraud. The aggravated identification theft cost carries a compulsory two-year jail sentence.
Meanwhile, Eletu was indicted within the Western District of Texas on February 17, 2026. He was later arrested within the United Kingdom, the place extradition proceedings are ongoing.
The case is being investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation division and TIGTA, with help from US and worldwide legislation enforcement companies.
The US Attorney’s Office, nevertheless, emphasised that the indictment comprises allegations and that the defendants are presumed harmless until confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in courtroom.
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