By Atlantic Reports

A United States federal court has sentenced Nigerian national Edikan Adiakpan to 30 months in prison for illegally transmitting proceeds from a business email fraud scheme targeting American companies.

Adiakpan, 35, a Houston resident, pleaded guilty on 12 May, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

US District Judge Andrew Hanen also ordered three years of supervised release after his prison term.

Prosecutors said Adiakpan used Akama Lifestyle, which he advertised as a luxury car service, to transfer funds received from fraudsters between 2020 and 2022, retaining a percentage of the proceeds.

According to the US Department of Justice, the wider scheme targeted more than 10 victims. Fraudsters impersonated legitimate suppliers and creditors through email, deceiving businesses into sending payments to fraudulent bank accounts.

Fraudulent Payment Instructions Cost Business $927,080

A small utility trailer company in Mississippi transferred $927,080 after receiving payment instructions it believed came from a legitimate supplier.

Prosecutors said the fraudsters subsequently channelled portions of the money to Adiakpan. He deposited and redeemed several cashier’s cheques payable to himself and his company, involving $359,000 of the Mississippi business’s funds.

The $359,000 was part of the company’s reported loss, rather than an additional amount.

A victim impact statement describing the financial consequences for the business was presented during the sentencing hearing.

The department said another Nigerian, Ayobami Omoniyi, 27, received a 32-month federal prison sentence on 24 March for his participation in the scheme.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Houston Field Office and Bryan Resident Agency investigated the case alongside the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.

Assistant US Attorney Belinda Beek prosecuted the case.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.