U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Fatai Okunola, et al.
United States v. Fatai Okunola, et al.
Mail and Wire Fraud - Victim Information
United States v. Fatai Okunola, Oluwaseyi Ayobami Adeola, Ijeoma Omolola Adeola, and Cory McDougal
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00148
Charges: Conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud
Press Releases:
Documents
Summary of Charged Offenses
According to allegations in the indictment, the defendants conspired with individuals primarily in Nigeria to defraud individuals in the United States, through a variety of fraud schemes using interstate wire transmissions or the mail system. The conspirators in Nigeria created false online personas to develop relationships with their victims over the internet, through social media, by text messages or by telephone. These relationships centered around romantic interests, offers to buy or sell goods or services, apartment rentals, or offers to make loans or provide grant funding, among other schemes. The conspirators sent pictures or provided other information to the victims to make their schemes appear genuine. When the conspirators used telephone calls, they utilized voice-over-internet-protocol numbers to make it appear as if the calls were originating within the United States near the victims. After developing the relationships, the conspirators asked for money for a variety of reasons related to the scheme. The defendants utilized the following Post Office Boxes, emails, business names, and false personas to carry out the scheme:
Post Office Boxes
P.O. Box 19216, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
P.O. Box 2115, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49003
Businesses
Shyon’s Auto
Fatjas Import & Export
Lola Adeola Jeweleries
Choices Auto
C.J.’s Shoe Rejuvination
Email Addresses
Fatairemix1@gmail.com
Omololaphlex@yahoo.com
pshyon@yahoo.com
corymc1991@gmail.com
False Personas of Alleged Fraudsters
Robert Johnson
John Stevenson
Gaurav Dewan
Akarsh Sahil
Koti Constance Malia
Timothy Jacob
Amanda Lynn Contreas
Tushar Khade
Brandon Johnson
Gaurav Gupta
Gaurav Santosh
James Mason
Luciano Rossi
Questions & Answers
- I received a letter in the mail notifying me that I may be a victim in this case. Is that letter legitimate?
Yes. As a part of our victim outreach, federal law enforcement sent letters to identified victims in the case, providing directions on how to register for notifications about this case. If you received such a letter, it is from federal law enforcement.
If you didn’t get a letter, that doesn’t mean you aren’t a victim of this alleged fraud scheme. We are working to identify victims through our records but also rely on the public to self-identify as victims by submitting the Potential Victim Intake Form linked below.
- How do I know if I’m a potential victim in this case?
Law enforcement has identified a number of the potential victims in this case. Federal agents have reached out to some of these victims in-person, by phone, and by mail.
If you have not been contacted by law enforcement, that doesn’t mean you are not a victim. As we continue to investigate the case we are asking individuals to submit the Potential Victim Intake Form linked below if they were contacted by or communicated with callers associated with the businesses listed above.
- Why was the case brought in Michigan? What if I don’t live in Michigan?
This alleged fraud scheme was international in scope and affected people across the United States so a federal case could have been brought in many different places in the country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan brought this case because the defendants allegedly coordinated, received, and distributed payments from this federal district. The fact that the case was brought in Michigan does not affect your rights as a victim, regardless of where you live.
Potential Victim Intake Form
Anyone who believes they have been harmed by Irfan Gill’s alleged criminal actions described above may complete the following form and select “Submit” when completed.
[Okunola Potential Victim Intake Form]
Court Events
- 12-12-23. The indictment in this case was returned.
- 06-27-24 – Final Pretrial Conference
- 07-29-24 – Trial
Victim Rights Information:
Pursuant to the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771, the Department of Justice is required to provide notice to individuals who may have been harmed as a direct result of the criminal offenses of which a defendant has been convicted. In this context, “harmed” is defined broadly and is not limited to monetary loss. This office uses the Victim Notification System (“VNS”) and other methods, including web pages and press releases, to ensure potential victims receive timely notice of public events related to a case. For more information, go to https://www.justice.gov/usao/resources/crime-victims-rights-ombudsman/victims-rights-act
Other federal laws, including the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (“MVRA”), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, and 18 U.S.C. § 2259, govern restitution in this case. Restitution is a determination by the judge that a victim is entitled to monetary compensation for losses suffered as a direct result of a crime for which a defendant has been convicted. It is not a guarantee of payment. In accordance with these laws, the judge at sentencing determines who is a victim and in what amount they are entitled to restitution.
Qualifying victims may be entitled to restitution for: medical, psychological, and psychiatric services; necessary transportation, temporary housing, and childcare expenses; lost income; reasonable attorneys’ fees, as well as other costs incurred; and any other relevant losses incurred by the victim proximally caused by the defendant’s crimes. Compensable expenses incurred while participating in the criminal investigation or prosecution or traveling to court proceedings for the case may also be included, such as lost income, childcare, transportation, and other expenses.
Once charges are filed in federal court, victims of the charges filed are entitled to the following rights under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771:
- The right to be reasonably protected from the accused;
- The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused;
- The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding;
- The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding;
- The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the government in the case;
- The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law;
- The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay;
- The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim’s dignity and privacy;
- The right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement; and
- The right to be informed of the rights under this section and the services described in section 503(c) of the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of the Victims’ Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice.
Please understand that these rights apply only to victims of the counts charged in federal court, and thus some victims may not be able to exercise all of these rights if the crime of which they are a victim was not charged. We will make our best efforts to ensure victims are provided the rights and services to which they are entitled. While our office cannot act as a victim’s attorney or provide a victim with legal advice, a victim can seek the advice of an attorney with respect to the rights above or other related legal matters.
Victim Resources:
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Elder Fraud
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- U.S. Postal Inspection Service Hotline: 1-877-876-2455
- FBI, Elder Fraud