By Emiola Osifeso
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) has arrested a Nigerian man, Rotimi Oladimeji, who was previously convicted of fraud in connection with a multimillion-dollar romance scam.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement released on ICE’s official X handle on Monday. According to the agency, Oladimeji, described as a “criminal alien,” was apprehended in New Orleans during a nationwide operation targeting illegal immigrants with criminal histories. “Nigerian criminal alien Rotimi Oladimeji’s criminal history includes mail and wire fraud. He was ordered to pay $1.1M+ in restitution before ICE New Orleans arrested him,” the terse statement read.
Court records show that Oladimeji was sentenced by a U.S. District Court in December 2023 to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of mail and wire fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice, in documents filed in 2022, revealed that Oladimeji played a supporting role in a romance scam that swindled an American woman out of nearly $1.17 million.
According to prosecutors, the victim was deceived into believing she was in an online relationship with a veterinarian and animal behaviorist purportedly based in St. Louis, Missouri. The fraudsters convinced her that her supposed partner was stranded during a trip to Dubai and could not return unless she wired large sums of money. Between October 2019 and the following months, the woman transferred funds in four- and five-figure sums to the fraudsters.
While not the ringleader, Oladimeji acted as an accomplice, receiving 20 percent of the illicit proceeds. Court filings identified other participants, including individuals named Akinrinmade and Adesanya, who also retained a share before forwarding the bulk of the money to the principal scammers in Nigeria. In total, the victim lost $1.17 million to the fraudulent scheme. Oladimeji’s guilty plea paved the way for his sentencing and an order to repay $1.1 million in restitution.
At the time of his conviction, U.S. authorities had placed Oladimeji under a deportation order. However, after serving his prison sentence, he reportedly remained in the United States, raising questions about enforcement of his removal. ICE’s latest operation, which targeted undocumented and criminal migrants, eventually led to his arrest. His case, officials noted, falls under a broader crackdown on individuals who not only lack legal immigration status but also have criminal convictions.
The arrest is the latest in a wave of immigration enforcement actions that intensified under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s directives against illegal and criminal migrants. Thousands have been detained in similar operations, with ICE officials stressing the importance of removing individuals considered a threat to public safety.
Oladimeji’s case is likely to be closely followed given its connection to cross-border fraud rings that have long been linked to Nigerian cybercrime networks. As of press time, ICE has not provided further details on whether deportation proceedings against Oladimeji have resumed or when he is expected to be removed from U.S. soil.
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