A 35-year-old Houston man will serve 30 months in federal prison for his role in a business email compromise scheme that defrauded more than 10 victims, federal prosecutors said.
Edikan Adiakpan pleaded guilty May 12. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen sentenced him to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to evidence presented at sentencing, Adiakpan used a company he controlled, Akama Lifestyle, which he advertised as a luxury car service, to receive and transfer money for others between 2020 and 2022. He kept a percentage of the money as a fee.
The money came from fraudsters who used spoofed emails to make it appear they were communicating with known suppliers and creditors. The victims were then tricked into sending payments to bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters instead of the legitimate businesses.
One victim, a small utility trailer company in Mississippi, told the court about the impact the scheme had on its business. The company was deceived into wiring money it believed was intended for its trailer supplier.
According to prosecutors, the company sent $927,080 to the Houston-based fraudsters. Portions of that money were later sent to Adiakpan.
Investigators said Adiakpan deposited and redeemed several cashier’s checks payable to himself and his exotic car company that contained $359,000 of the victim’s money.
At the time of his arrest, Adiakpan had temporary legal status to remain in the United States. He is originally from Nigeria.
Another Nigerian man, 27-year-old Ayobami Omoniyi, was sentenced March 24 to 32 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme.
The FBI’s Houston office and Bryan Resident Agency, along with IRS Criminal Investigation, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek prosecuted the case.
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