Two Nigerian athletes have been convicted in the United
States for their part in a “complex fraud scheme.”
According to a statement released by the US attorney’s
office of the southern district of Mississippi, Emmanuel Ineh, the long jumper,
and Toluwani Adebakin, the sprinter, pleaded guilty to charges of “sending
thousands of illicitly obtained proceeds to fraudsters in Nigeria as part of a
larger mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.”
The scheme is said to have involved students of “multiple
higher learning institutions in the United States.”
“Two collegiate athletes were convicted today before U.S.
District Judge Kristi Johnson for transferring thousands of dollars to Nigeria
as part of a complex fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca
and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
Jackson Field Office,” the statement — dated November 10 — reads.
“According to court
documents, Emmanuel Ineh, 23, and Toluwani Adebakin, 25, pleaded guilty to
violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957, for engaging in
monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activities,
collectively sending tens of thousands of illicitly obtained proceeds to
fraudsters in Nigeria as part of a larger mail fraud, wire fraud, and money
laundering conspiracy.
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Toluwani Adebakin |
“The scheme involved Track and Field athletes from multiple
higher learning institutions in the United States, with part of the conspiracy
being operated out of Hattiesburg while the Ineh and Adebakin were Track and
Field teammates at William Carey University.
William Carey University was cooperative throughout the investigation.”
Ineh represented Nigeria at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games
where he won silver while Adebakin is a 200m and 400m runner.
Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on February
15, 2023, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
It is believed that they risk at least ten years in prison.
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