Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Ohio 2026

TOLEDO, Ohio

In a shocking turn of events, a federal jury found three individuals guilty of involvement with an international email hacking scheme that defrauded more than 1,000 victims out of approximately $215 million.

The scheme spanned 47 states and 19 countries, targeting individuals, businesses, and other organizations in the United States. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Nigerian-linked fraud organizations hacked e-mail accounts held by individual users, monitored their communications, and learned about their business practices and contacts.

Aruan Drake, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Peter Reed, 35, of Oak Forest, Illinois, were convicted of Wire Fraud Conspiracy, along with Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi, 40, of Romeoville, Illinois, who was also convicted of a Money Laundering Conspiracy.

Additionally, Awoyemi and Drake were convicted of a Money Laundering Conspiracy. The defendants used a web of fraudulently created bank accounts and cash transfer systems to launder and distribute the funds.

Approximately $50 million of the stolen money was used to purchase cashier's checks that were presented for payment to the New Dolton Currency Exchange, a Chicago-area money service business owned and operated by co-defendant Lon Goodman.

The convictions bring the total number of defendants convicted for their roles in this fraud and money laundering scheme to 25. The scheme affected victim businesses in Norwalk, Kent, Akron, Hudson, Maple Heights, Westfield Center, New Riegel, and Greenwich, Ohio, as well as numerous states and international locations.

Among the items seized or subject to forfeiture during the investigation included nearly $1.2 million worth of cashier's checks, cryptocurrency, and cash, as well as luxury watches and real estate.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cyber security and the devastating consequences of cybercrime.

Defendant: Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi, Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Money Laundering Conspiracy, Toledo, Ohio, April 24, 2026, Convicted.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/25-defendants-convicted-international-215m-scam-targeted-1000-victims