Babajide Adesayo was convicted of laundering money linked to romance scams targeting elderly victims and is due to be sentenced in November
Babajide Adesayo, a 41-year-old Nigerian national living in Douglasville, Georgia, was convicted by a United States federal jury on August 6, 2026, of laundering more than $2.7 million obtained from victims of romance fraud and other online scams, the US Department of Justice said on Wednesday.
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Adesayo was found guilty following an eight-day trial of two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering, according to the US Department of Justice.
The case centred on a fraud operation that allegedly targeted elderly victims between April 2020 and September 2021, with fraudsters posing online as friends, business associates and romantic partners before persuading victims to send money.
According to evidence presented at trial, the fraudsters built relationships with their targets before making false claims that they needed money for business equipment, medical treatment, injuries or to secure their release from prison.
Victims were allegedly persuaded to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars, including retirement savings and other income, into business accounts linked to Adesayo’s co-defendant, Nigerian national Efemena Igbe.
The Justice Department said Igbe allegedly transferred most of the money to Adesayo shortly after receiving it and attempted to disguise the transactions by falsely describing them as payments for vehicles from Adesayo’s automotive business.
“When Adesayo received the money, he immediately sent most of it to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other countries,” the department said.
Over a 17-month period, prosecutors said Adesayo received and moved more than $2.7 million in funds belonging to fraud victims.
The case took another serious turn after Adesayo’s arrest in June 2024.
Prosecutors alleged that he continued laundering money while awaiting trial, with some victims sending funds directly to his business accounts and others transferring money through third-party accounts before the funds were moved to him.
The Justice Department said Adesayo would quickly withdraw or transfer funds after receiving them.
His bond was subsequently revoked after authorities discovered the alleged post-arrest conduct, and he has remained in federal custody since March 2, 2026.
The case highlights the growing sophistication of romance fraud, in which criminals exploit emotional relationships and trust before requesting money under fabricated circumstances.
Older victims are particularly vulnerable to such schemes because fraudsters can spend considerable time cultivating relationships before making financial demands.
Adesayo’s conviction does not represent the end of the case. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark H. Cohen.
The potential penalties are substantial.
The US Department of Justice said Adesayo faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the two conspiracy counts and up to 10 years on each transactional money-laundering count.
He also faces a consecutive sentence of up to 10 years for allegedly committing offences while on release.
The final sentence will be determined by the court after consideration of the US Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges but are not binding on federal judges.
The case comes shortly after another Nigerian national, Adedayo Fateru, was sentenced in the United States to 87 months in prison for his role in a money-laundering operation involving about $1.7 million in proceeds from various fraud schemes.
Fateru was sentenced alongside three other defendants, with the four receiving a combined 190 months in prison. His sentence is also to be followed by three years of supervised release.
While the cases are separate, both prosecutions demonstrate the continuing focus of US federal authorities on financial networks that move proceeds from online fraud across international borders.
For Adesayo, the November sentencing hearing will determine the actual punishment following his conviction.
Until then, the maximum penalties outlined by prosecutors remain statutory possibilities rather than the sentence he will ultimately receive.
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The prosecution also underscores how financial investigations can extend well beyond the initial fraud, tracing funds through business accounts, third-party transfers and overseas destinations before identifying those allegedly responsible for laundering the proceeds.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
