Georgia Man Convicted of Laundering Over $2.7 Million from Online Scam Victims

A federal jury on Aug. 6 convicted Babajide Adesayo, a naturalized U.S. citizen, of laundering more than $2.7 million obtained through online fraud targeting vulnerable individuals, especially seniors. The eight-day trial resulted in two conspiracy convictions and 16 counts of transactional money laundering. The fraud operation ran from April 2020 through September 2021, with scammers posing as friends, business contacts or romantic partners to extract funds that victims claimed were needed for equipment, legal troubles or medical expenses.

Money was initially deposited into business accounts controlled by Nigerian national Efemena Igbe, who then transferred the bulk to Adesayo under the guise of vehicle payments, before the funds were sent to accounts in China, Hong Kong and Nigeria. Authorities traced the full amount over a 17-month period and noted that Adesayo kept laundering money after his June 2024 arrest, leading a magistrate to revoke his bond. He remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing, which is set for Nov. 20 before U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen.