A 43-year-old Nigerian man, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been extradited from Benin to the United States to face federal charges over an alleged tax fraud scheme involving more than $100 million in fraudulent refund claims filed using stolen identities.
Raheem was arraigned on Monday in the Northern District of Georgia on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Raheem allegedly conspired with Abayomi Quadri Eletu, a resident of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, and others to file more than 300 fraudulent tax returns between 2018 and 2023. 
The defendants allegedly used stolen identities belonging to accountants and American taxpayers to claim more than $100 million in refunds from the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“Raheem and his co-conspirators allegedly obtained hundreds of stolen identities, filed fraudulent tax returns using that information, and laundered the proceeds through prepaid debit cards and purchases of used cars that were shipped to Nigeria and other locations,” US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said.
“The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering. Thanks to the dedication of the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners around the world, Raheem has been extradited to the United States, and his arrest confirms again that no alleged criminal can escape the reach of American justice.”
Prosecutors alleged that Raheem, Eletu and their co-conspirators obtained sensitive personal information, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers, belonging to tax professionals and taxpayers.
They allegedly accessed the information by creating online accounts with the IRS and requesting private taxpayer records.
The group allegedly used the stolen information to submit fraudulent tax returns and instructed the IRS to distribute the claimed refunds across prepaid debit cards sent to addresses controlled by members of the conspiracy.
After receiving the funds, Raheem and Eletu allegedly laundered some of the proceeds by purchasing money orders in amounts designed to remain below reporting thresholds.
Prosecutors said the money orders were subsequently used to buy used cars through auction websites, some of which were shipped to Nigeria, as well as designer clothing and other items.
Christopher J. Altemus Jr., special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Texas Field Office, said the alleged scheme victimised hundreds of taxpayers and diverted money from the US Treasury.
“Raheem is an alleged co-conspirator in a nationwide identity theft scheme that victimized hundreds of taxpayers. The fraud also stole from the U.S. Treasury, impacting programs serving us all,” Altemus said.
“These come with repercussions that are long lasting, which is why we place a global emphasis on arresting and extraditing these individuals.”
He added that investigators were pursuing financial criminals to recover stolen funds and bring those responsible to justice.
Anthony Colello, special agent in charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), said the investigation demonstrated the US government’s commitment to prosecuting people accused of defrauding American taxpayers.
“The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and its partners, along with the prosecutorial work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, demonstrate the commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people,” Colello said.
How Raheem Was Arrested
According to prosecutors, federal law enforcement agents attempted to arrest Raheem at his residence in April 2026.
During the visit, agents spoke through a video doorbell to a man who identified himself as Raheem and said he was not at home.
Less than a week later, investigators learnt that Raheem had booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin.
He arrived in Benin on April 15, 2026, and was arrested by local authorities pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Beninese authorities subsequently extradited him to the United States last week. The US Attorney’s Office described the extradition as only the second from Benin to the United States in history.
Raheem was detained in the custody of the US Marshals Service following his arraignment, pending further court proceedings.
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia indicted him on February 24, 2026, on one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, 14 counts of access device fraud and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft.
If convicted, he faces maximum prison sentences of 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, 20 years for money laundering and 10 years for access device fraud. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory two-year prison sentence.
Eletu was separately indicted in the Western District of Texas on February 17, 2026. He was later arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings are pending.
The investigation is being conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation division and TIGTA, with assistance from US and international law enforcement agencies.
The US Attorney’s Office emphasised that the indictment contains allegations, not proof of guilt.
“Defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” the statement said.
