A 43-year-old Nigerian man has been extradited from Benin to the United States to face federal charges over an alleged multi-year scheme that sought more than $100 million in fraudulent tax refunds using stolen identities.
Akinade Adedeji Raheem was arraigned in a US federal court after his transfer and ordered held in the custody of the US Marshals Service. Prosecutors say he and co-conspirators filed more than 300 false tax returns between 2018 and 2023, seeking refunds from the Internal Revenue Service.
US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said the group obtained hundreds of stolen identities, filed fraudulent returns with that information, and moved the proceeds through prepaid debit cards and purchases of used cars that were shipped to Nigeria and other locations.
“The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering,” Hertzberg said. “Thanks to the dedication of the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners around the world, Raheem has been extradited to the United States.”
The indictment also named Abayomi Quadri Eletu, a resident of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, as an alleged co-conspirator. Eletu was indicted separately and arrested in the UK, where extradition proceedings remain pending.
According to court documents, the suspects allegedly collected personal information of American taxpayers and tax professionals, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers. Investigators say they created online IRS accounts to access private data, filed false returns and directed refunds to prepaid debit cards tied to addresses they controlled. Some proceeds were allegedly laundered through money orders structured to avoid reporting thresholds, then used to buy used cars at auction, designer clothing and other items.
Federal agents sought to arrest Raheem at his residence in April 2026 but could not locate him. They later learned he had booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin. He arrived in Benin on April 15, 2026, and was arrested by local authorities on an INTERPOL Red Notice. Beninese authorities then extradited him to the United States—the second such transfer from Benin to the US in history, according to the Justice Department.
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia indicted Raheem on February 24, 2026, on charges including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, 14 counts of access device fraud and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy counts, up to 10 years on the access device fraud charges, and a mandatory two-year sentence on each aggravated identity theft count.
IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. said the alleged scheme victimised hundreds of taxpayers and diverted funds from the US Treasury. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Colello said the case reflected sustained efforts by investigators and prosecutors to pursue those who defraud taxpayers.
The case is being handled by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with assistance from authorities in Benin and the United Kingdom. Assistant US Attorney Brian Pearce, Senior Litigation Counsel Michael C. Boteler and Trial Attorney Michael Jones are prosecuting.
The Justice Department emphasised that the indictment contains only allegations and that Raheem and the other defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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