The FBI has announced the conviction and sentencing of Nigerian national Oluwaseun Adekoya, the ringleader of a sophisticated, nationwide bank fraud and money-laundering operation that stole more than $2 million from victims across the United States. Adekoya will spend the next 20 years in federal prison, marking one of the most significant outcomes yet under the Bureau’s operation code-named “Catch Me If You Can.”
According to federal investigators, Adekoya operated under a long list of aliases — including “Ace G,” “Broda,” “Legendary,” “Santa,” “Santana,” “Sammy LaBanco,” “Sean Maison,” and “Kiing_maison” — to conceal his identity and run an intricate criminal network. His crew used stolen personal information to impersonate people nationwide, create fake accounts, move funds, and withdraw money before banks could flag the transactions.
The fraud ring coordinated across several states, with members acting quickly to exploit loopholes, redirect funds, and launder the stolen money through multiple channels. Officials say Adekoya played a central role in recruiting accomplices, planning the scams, and directing how the money was moved to avoid detection.
The FBI Albany Field Office led the multi-year investigation, working closely with numerous law-enforcement partners across the country. Their joint efforts helped track digital footprints, identify patterns in the fraud, and finally tie the web of activity back to Adekoya.
In its statement, the FBI described the sentencing as a major victory in shutting down a high-impact criminal network that targeted financial institutions and everyday citizens. Investigators say the case highlights the growing sophistication of fraud schemes and the importance of coordinated national efforts to stop them.
Adekoya will now serve two decades behind bars, bringing an end to what the FBI called one of the most persistent identity-theft and money-laundering operations uncovered in recent years.
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