Rotimi Oladimeji, Romance Scam, Missouri 2023

• ST. LOUIS, MO – A 38-year-old Texas man has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a romance scam that targeted a Missouri woman, causing her to lose nearly $1.2 million.

Rotimi Oladimeji, of Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Tuesday for his involvement in the scam, which began with him and his co-conspirators creating an online relationship with the victim on a dating site.

The scammers, including Oladimeji, made plans to meet with the victim but never followed through, leaving her waiting at the Missouri Botanical Garden in October 2019.

Oladimeji and his co-conspirators continued to request money from the victim, who was led to believe she was in a relationship with a veterinarian and animal behaviorist living in St. Louis.

The victim sent cash and cashier’s checks via FedEx to the Texas home of Olumide Akrinmade, a co-defendant of Oladimeji, who was also involved in the scam. In total, the victim lost nearly $1.17 million.

Oladimeji pleaded guilty in December 2022 to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.

He was ordered to repay the nearly $1.2 million he helped steal, and could be deported after his release from prison.

Oladimeji received 20% of the funds he generated, while his co-defendants, including Akrinmade and Adewale Adesanya, received 20% of the funds they forwarded.

Adesanya was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to repay $1.5 million that resulted from the romance fraud as well as a business email compromise scheme.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry prosecuted the case.

For information on how to spot and guard against romance scams, visit ice.gov/features/romance-scams.

Mandatory facts:

• Defendant/Respondent: Rotimi Oladimeji

• Exact criminal charges: Two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud

• City and State: St. Louis, MO

• Exact Date: 12/2022 (plea), 3/2023 (sentencing)

• Sentence or outcome: Three years in prison, ordered to repay nearly $1.2 million

• Dollar amounts: Nearly $1.2 million, $1.17 million, $1.5 million

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