Related Federal Cases
18 Indicted for Wire Fraud, Aggravated ID Theft, Pennsylvania 2023
ERIE, Pa. – Eighteen individuals from around the United States have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The thirteen-count superseding indictment named Doherty Kushimo, 53, of Providence, Rhode Island; Saburi Adeyemi, 57, of Memphis, Tennessee; Abiodun Bakre, 50, of Ozone Park, New York; Adetunji Gbadegeshi, 57, of Rosedale, New York; Adebola Mejule, 55, of Hempstead, New York; Michael Idowu Olugbade, 43; Xerxes Shevar, 47, of Brooklyn, New York; Gcobisa Kehle, 37, of Brooklyn, New York; Loyiso Kula, 43, of New York City; Abiodun Tijani, 44, of Staten Island, New York; Funmilayo Aliyu, 53, of Laurelton, New York; Bola Peters, 43, of New York City; Samuel Sobaloju, 52, of Far Rockaway, New York; Daniel Freeman, 49, of Danbury, Connecticut; Nana Baffour, 38, of Bronx, New York; Kwame Asamoah, 35, of Brooklyn, New York; Robert Wireko, 47, of Brooklyn, New York; and Alaire Sanya, 47, of Far Rockaway, New York, as defendants.
According to the indictment presented to the court, the eighteen defendants conspired to commit wire fraud by submitting fraudulent federal tax returns in the names of individuals whose identities the conspirators stole. The conspirators then opened bank accounts using stolen identities and used those accounts as repositories for their fraudulently obtained federal tax refunds.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison for Saburi Adeyemi, Adetunji Gbadegeshi, Adebola Mejule, Michael Idowu Olugbade, Xerxes Shevar, Gcobisa Kehle, Loyiso Kula, Abiodun Tijani, Funmilayo Aliyu, Bola Peters, Samuel Sobaloju, Daniel Freeman, Nana Baffour, Kwame Asamoah, Robert Wireko, and Alaire Sanya. Doherty Kushimo faces 38 years in prison and Abiodun Bakre faces 36 years in prison.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
According to the indictment, the conspirators obtained stolen identity information on the Internet and then traded that information among themselves using email accounts and other means of communication. All told, the indictment alleges that, for the tax years 2010 to 2013, approximately $38 million in fraudulent tax refunds was sought from the IRS by the conspirators, causing the IRS to pay at least $10 million in fraudulent refunds.
An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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