FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTAUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

MARCH 26, 2007

MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN COUNTERFEIT MONEY ORDER AND CHECK SCHEME

Over $700,000 in Counterfeit Checks and Money Orders Seized

Baltimore, Maryland - Samuel Ibukun Oduyemi, age 20, of Leesburg, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to possession of counterfeit money orders and bank checks, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the plea agreement, during April and May 2006, Adebayo Michael Idamakin showed Oduyemi several counterfeit money orders that Idamakin had received from friends in England. On May 31, 2006, Idamakin gave Oduyemi two money orders made payable to the name on a false identification card Oduyemi possessed, and an additional phony money order, which Oduyemi made payable to himself. The value of the three money orders was $2,850. Idamakin paid Oduyemi $300 after Oduyemi cashed one of the money orders at a local store in Northern Virginia. Later that day, Oduyemi drove Idamakin to Silver Spring, Maryland to pick up a Federal Express package. Federal agents conducted a controlled delivery of the package, which contained $228,000 in fictitious checks to Idamakin. Idamakin returned to Oduyemi's car where both men were arrested. Agents seized the package, two counterfeit money orders totaling $1,900 in Oduyemi's pocket, and additional counterfeit money orders and checks in a bag belonging to Idamakin. Over $700,000 in counterfeit checks and money orders were seized as part of this investigation.

Adebayo Michael Idamakin, age 24, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the same charges on January 23, 2007 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 12, 2007

Both defendants face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for Oduyemi on June 19, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kwame J. Manley, who is prosecuting the case.