US Court Sentences Nigerian to 5 Years Over Sextortion Ring

​PHILADELPHIA — A 27-year-old Nigerian man has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, marking the final prosecution in a devastating online sextortion ring that drove a 20-year-old college student to take his own life.

​Afeez Olatunji Adewale received his sentence of five years behind bars followed by three years of supervised release on Friday, July 24, 2026, from U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky. Adewale previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges for his role as a financial operative in a scheme that targeted a Montgomery County student in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

​The sentencing closes a multi-year international manhunt and legal battle spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Nigerian law enforcement.

​Global Reach of Cybercrime Enforcement

​Announcing the final judgment, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf emphasized that geographic boundaries will not shield digital predators from accountability.

​”All three defendants have finally been brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “I hope that their arrests, extradition, and prosecution make clear that the DOJ will go after those terrorizing our young people — no matter where the scammers and sextortionists may be. Though this case is now closed, our thoughts will remain with a family and community forever changed.”

​Adewale was initially arrested in Nigeria on August 17, 2023, during an extensive joint operation coordinated with the FBI to dismantle transnational cybercrime syndicates. Following a lengthy extradition process aided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, Adewale was transported to the United States in February 2026 and entered a guilty plea in April.

​U.S. authorities lauded the vital cooperation of Nigerian security institutions, including the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

ADVERTISEMENT

​A Network Brought to Account

​Adewale’s sentencing marks the conclusion of a trio of prosecutions overseen by Judge Slomsky:

• ​Imoleayo Samuel Aina (aka “Alice Dave,” 27): Admitted guilt to cyberstalking, interstate threats, extortion proceeds, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud. He was sentenced in October 2025 to six years in prison.

• ​Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun (26): Pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, receiving a five-year prison sentence in June 2025.

​Law enforcement officials stressed that local police departments often face strict territorial limitations when combating internet crimes, making federal and international partnerships indispensable.

​”This final sentencing is the result of diligent investigative work and close coordination with our domestic and international law enforcement partners,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “This case is a testament to the FBI’s unwavering commitment to pursuing those who exploit others online, regardless of where they operate.”