Nigerian citizen sentenced in million-dollar stolen mail credit card fraud scheme

HOUSTON – A 64-year-old man who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for his role in a large-scale mail theft and credit card fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Omokehinde Muyiwa Oyegoke-Tewogbade pleaded guilty Feb. 19.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now ordered him to serve 24 months in federal prison and to pay restitution in the amount of $839,555.75. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment as Oyegoke-Tewogbade had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully present in the United States.

Over a six-month period between November 2022 and May 2023, Oyegoke-Tewogbade and co-conspirators schemed to steal U.S. mail containing new credit cards and bank statements intended for account holders. They contacted financial institutions to activate the stolen cards, increased credit limits and altered account information. They then used the cards to purchase goods, services, gift cards, cash and merchandise at retail stores.

In total, they fraudulently activated at least 120 stolen credit cards, causing an estimated $1 million in losses to Chase Bank.

Four others had also previously pleaded guilty to the same charges - Christopher McGee, 43, Daniel Sanchez, 37, Bradley Kane Zarco, 39, and Travis Castaneda Qawasmeh, 28, all of Houston. Sanchez has already been sentenced to 41 months, while the others are pending their hearings.  

Oyegoke-Tewogbade will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Lansden prosecuted the case.