ATLANTA – Federal prosecutors in the United States have unsealed a sweeping indictment against two Nigerian nationals accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of over $100 million.
The defendants, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, 43, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Abayomi Quadri Eletu, 42, a resident of both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, allegedly exploited the stolen identities of tax professionals and ordinary citizens to siphon millions in fraudulent refunds.
The “Invisible” Fraud
According to court documents filed in the Northern District of Georgia and the Western District of Texas, the conspiracy operated between 2018 and 2023. The duo allegedly gained unauthorized access to the personal identifying information (PII) of accountants and taxpayers to create fraudulent online accounts with the IRS.
To ensure their victims remained unaware of the theft, the suspects reportedly:
- Redirected Official Mail: Filed “change of address” requests with the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS so that verification letters and tax documents were sent to properties controlled by the conspirators.
- Impersonated Taxpayers: When the IRS flagged suspicious activity, the defendants allegedly posed as the legitimate taxpayers to verify identities and release the funds.
Money Laundering and Luxury Shipments
Prosecutors allege that once the IRS issued the refunds—often split across multiple prepaid debit cards to avoid detection—the group began a meticulous laundering process.
The funds were used to purchase small-denomination money orders to stay below federal reporting thresholds. Investigations revealed that the proceeds were spent on designer clothing and used luxury vehicles bought at online auctions. Several of these vehicles were subsequently shipped to Nigeria.
Severe Legal Consequences
The charges against the duo are extensive. Both Raheem and Eletu face:
- Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud: Up to 20 years in prison.
- Money Laundering Conspiracy: Up to 20 years in prison.
- Aggravated Identity Theft: A mandatory consecutive two-year sentence.
Eletu faces additional counts of mail and wire fraud, while Raheem has been slapped with 14 counts of access device fraud.
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”This was a calculated attack on the integrity of our tax system,” stated U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “By stealing the identities of the very professionals who keep our financial systems running, these individuals sought to enrich themselves at the expense of every honest taxpayer.”
The case was a collaborative effort involving IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.K. authorities. While the indictment serves as a formal accusation, both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
