A Nigerian man, Oladapo Olalekan Fadugba, 40, has been indicted by U.S. authorities for allegedly stealing over $690,000 meant for a healthcare supplier and mendacity throughout his naturalization course of to acquire U.S. citizenship.
This was disclosed in a press release by United States Legal professional for the Center District of Florida, Gregory W. Kehoe, who introduced that Oladapo Olalekan Fadugba, 40, has been charged with wire fraud, aggravated id theft, and making a false assertion associated to naturalization.
In keeping with the assertion from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, if convicted on all counts, Fadugba faces a most penalty of 27 years in federal jail. The indictment additionally features a forfeiture discover in search of $400,000.
“If convicted on all counts, Fadugba faces a most penalty of 27 years in federal jail. The indictment additionally notifies Fadugba that america is in search of an order of forfeiture within the quantity of $400,000, which represents the approximate proceeds of the charged prison conduct.
In keeping with the indictment, starting on October 30, 2020, and ending no later than July 11, 2023, Fadugba had greater than $690,000 of Division of Veterans Affairs funds, meant for reimbursement to a big native healthcare supplier, transferred to his personal private {bank} accounts,” they acknowledged
The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace defined that between October 30, 2020, and July 11, 2023, Fadugba orchestrated the redirection of greater than $690,000 of Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) funds into his private accounts.
These funds have been initially meant to reimburse a big native healthcare supplier.
“Fadugba then wrote himself, or companies related to him, checks that have been then transferred to different {bank} accounts owned by him. It’s alleged that to obtain the transfers, Fadugba used the identification of one other particular person,” the indictment states.
To execute the scheme, “it’s alleged that Fadugba used the identification of one other particular person.”
The indictment additionally revealed that Fadugba, a naturalized U.S. citizen initially from Nigeria, lied below oath throughout his naturalization course of.
He allegedly claimed below oath that “he had not dedicated any crime or offense for which he had not been arrested,” a press release the authorities now assert was false.
The case was investigated by a number of federal companies, together with the Division of Veterans Affairs – Workplace of Inspector Basic, Homeland Safety Investigations, the U.S. Treasury Workplace of Inspector Basic, and the U.S. Secret Service.
The case might be prosecuted by Assistant United States Legal professional Rachel Lasry.
