Baltimore, MD – In a shocking turn of events, two Nigerian nationals have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to schemes to defraud financial institutions, retail establishments, and other business victims in Maryland.
Johnson B. Ogunlana, 25, of Edgewood, Maryland, and Samson A. Oguntuyi, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of mail by a postal employee.
According to their plea agreements, the duo conspired together and with others to steal bank checks and credit and debit cards from the mail, open fraudulent business banking accounts using the names of victim businesses and the stolen identities of victim postal customers to negotiate the stolen checks.
For example, Ogunlana intercepted and stole mail pieces containing credit cards addressed to individual victims and sent photos of the stolen mail pieces and credit cards through a messaging application to Oguntuyi and other conspirators.
Oguntuyi then used the victims’ personal identifying information to activate the stolen credit cards and to obtain new credit cards the victims never requested or applied for.
The duo also registered fraudulent businesses with state government agencies using the names of victim businesses and the names and identifying information of postal customer identity theft victims as the agents and/or incorporators of the businesses.
At least $565,000 was stolen from two victim businesses and at least eight postal customers were victims of identity theft.
Ogunlana and Oguntuyi each face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud. Oguntuyi also faces a maximum of 30 years for bank fraud.
The guilty pleas were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Imari R. Niles of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; and Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division.
Ogunlana, a former letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, knew that his duties and responsibilities included handling, sorting, collecting, and delivering letter and parcel mail to postal customers.
The case is a reminder of the importance of protecting personal identifying information and being vigilant when it comes to mail and financial transactions.
Related Federal Cases
- Bank and Mail Fraud: Georgia Man Pleads Guilty · South Carolina
- Nigerian National Sentenced to 63 Months for Credit Card Fraud Scheme · South Carolina
- William Frazier Sentenced to 51 Months for Wire Fraud, Midland GA, … · Georgia
- Dr. George Robert Vito, Bankruptcy Fraud, Macon GA, 2013 · Alabama
- Ransom and Seegars Hit Georgia Ave. Bank · Maryland
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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