Michael Idowu Olugbade, Wire Fraud, Pennsylvania 2024

ERIE, Pa. – A brazen scheme involving stolen identities and tax refund fraud has landed three men behind bars. Michael Idowu Olugbade, 45, of Brownsburg, Indiana; Alaire Sanya, 49, of Corona, New York; and Olanrewaju Ajetunmobi, 45, of Austell, Georgia, were sentenced in federal court on their convictions of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

According to court records, the scheme involved using stolen identities to file fraudulent federal tax returns, which falsely claimed farm income and a fuel tax credit in order to generate a tax refund on taxes that were never paid. The fraudulently obtained refunds were then deposited, via wire, into bank accounts which were opened using stolen identities.

Olugbade’s luggage, found in a co-defendant’s residence, contained stolen identities and tax return information. The ledgers in Olugbade’s luggage listed tax refund amounts and bank accounts in which the refunds were to be placed. IRS records show the data listed in the ledgers was correct, in that the exact same refund amounts listed were deposited in the same bank accounts listed. Also found in the luggage were debit cards for fraudulent bank accounts opened using stolen identities.

A search of Sanya’s residence resulted in the discovery of hundreds of different stolen identities many of which were used by multiple co-conspirators in furtherance of their conspiracy. Sanya was also found in possession of numerous credit cards obtained using stolen identities.

Ajetunmobi, an accountant, used stolen identities supplied by co-defendants to file fraudulent federal tax returns. He was sentenced to 1 day in jail followed by 6 months community confinement, 6 months home detention and 3 years supervised release.

Olugbade and Sanya received identical sentences of 30 months in jail and 3 years supervised release. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting U.S. Attorney Song commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecutions of Olugbade, Sanya and Ajetunmobi. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting personal identity information and the consequences of engaging in such brazen schemes.

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