A Nigerian, Adedunmola Gbadegesin, has been sentenced to a 60-month jail term by US court for money laundering and conspiracy.
Gbadegesin, who was arrested in Nigeria in September 2021, was also charged with wire fraud over his involvement in an international romance scheme, which was later dropped in a plea deal.
The romance scheme cost a Lexington woman approximately $200,000, the Kentucky Herald-Leader reported.
Gbedegesin, who was sentenced on Friday, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy in September, according to court documents.
Before his sentencing, Gbadegesin was said to have admitted his guilt in court, claiming he got involved in the scheme to feed his family but was apologetic for his actions.
Reports also has it that his lawyer had asked for a 36-month prison sentence while the prosecution recommended 63 months, but U.S. District Judge, Karen Caldwell, sentenced Gbadegesin to a five-year jail term and also directed he forfeited the sum of $38,000 recovered from him.
According to reports, Gbadegesin was part of a “romance scheme” that would set up fake online profiles on dating websites and then lure their victims, mainly older women, into thinking they were in a relationship and milk them for money.
Gbadegesin was on April 27, 2022 extradited to the United States where he was wanted in a case of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
The offences contravene Title 18, US Code, Section 1349 and 1956 (h) and carry a maximum jail term of 20 years.
