New York Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud U.S. Defense Contractors

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Solomon Oyesanya, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty today to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Oyesanya admitted that he was part of a conspiracy, led by two Nigerian nationals, to fraudulently obtain computer hardware and products from contractors and vendors who were approved to do business with the U.S. Government, specifically the U.S. Department of Defense (“U.S. DoD”).  To accomplish this scheme, members of the conspiracy created fake U.S. DoD and other U.S. government agency websites and email accounts (sometimes called “spoofed” websites and email accounts) and placed fraudulent government purchase orders with victim contractors and vendors for large quantities of computer hardware and similar products.  In furtherance of the conspiracy, Oyesanya, using false identification, picked up or attempted to pick up fraudulently ordered shipments from legitimate carriers to divert the shipments to co-conspirators in Nigeria.  The actual and intended losses to the government contractors and vendors targeted by the conspiracy exceeded $1.5 million.

Oludayo Edgal, 32, of West Covina, California, also pleaded guilty on February 4 to a felony arising from this conspiracy.

Oyesanya, who will be sentenced on June 24, and Edgal, who will be sentenced on April 29, each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, respectively.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jeffery Thorpe, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service Cyber Field Office; and Kevin Perkins, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kellen S. Dwyer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D. Filamor and Nima R.T. Binara are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-69.