Key Takeaways
- Afeez Olatunji Adewale, a 27-year-old Nigerian national, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in a money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud scheme.
- The scheme was connected to the sexual extortion and death of a young man in Pennsylvania.
- Adewale was extradited from Nigeria to the United States in February 2026 and pleaded guilty to the charges in April.
A Nigerian national, Afeez Olatunji Adewale, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison in the United States for his role in a money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud scheme connected to the sexual extortion and death of a young man in Pennsylvania.
The 27-year-old was sentenced by United States District Judge Joel H. Slomsky, who also ordered him to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced. Adewale was extradited from Nigeria to the United States in February 2026 and pleaded guilty to the charges in April.
Reaction to the Sentencing
Reacting to the sentencing, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf said the conviction marked the end of the prosecution of all three defendants involved in the case. “All three defendants have finally been brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “I hope that their arrests, extradition, and prosecution make clear that the DOJ will go after those terrorizing our young people — no matter where the scammers and sextortionists may be.
According to U.S. authorities, Adewale was arrested in Nigeria on August 17, 2023, during a joint operation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) targeting suspected sexual extortionists who preyed on victims in the United States. He was extradited to the U.S. on February 13, 2026, through the combined efforts of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, the FBI, Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency and the Abington Township Police Department, while Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Brown led the prosecution. Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, said the sentencing underscored the agency’s determination to pursue cybercriminals wherever they operate.
Chief Patrick Molloy of the Abington Township Police Department also praised the collaboration between local and federal law enforcement agencies that led to the convictions. “The capabilities of local police departments to expand an investigation beyond the borders of the U.S. is extremely limited. We must rely on the expertise of the FBI and other federal law enforcement partners, which is exactly what occurred in this case,” said Chief Patrick Molloy.
Why This Matters
The sentencing of Afeez Olatunji Adewale sends a strong message that cybercriminals will be pursued and brought to justice, regardless of their location. It also highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, and the need for continued vigilance in protecting individuals from online extortion and harassment.
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