Nigerian national admits to role in email scam

HOUSTON - A 34-year-old foreign national who resided in Houston has pleaded guilty to illegal money transmission, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

From 2020 to 2022, Edikan Adiakpan owned an unlicensed money transmitting business through a company he controlled called Akama Lifestyle. As part of his plea, he admitted he used the business to transfer funds and kept a percentage as a fee.

The funds Adiakpan received and then transmitted originated from fraudsters who carried out a business email compromise scheme. It targeted more than 10 victims who received "spoofed" emails that appeared to come from known suppliers and creditors. The victims were tricked into sending payments to bank accounts the fraudsters controlled instead of the actual suppliers.

One victim wired $927,080 to the fraudsters who then sent portions of those proceeds to Adiakpan. He redeemed a cashier's check payable to himself that contained $60,000 of the victim's money.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Another Nigerian citizen, Ayobami Omoniyi, 26, was sentenced March 24 to 32 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen accepted the plea and has sent sentencing for Sept. 15. At that time, Adiakpan faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

FBI - Houston and its Bryan Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.