Nigerian man jailed in US for laundering $3.1 million from fraud schemes

A Nigerian national, Oluwasegun Baiyewu, has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison in the United States for his role in laundering more than $3.1 million obtained through various fraud schemes targeting U.S. citizens. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the sentence for Baiyewu, 40, of Houston, Texas, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Court documents reveal that between May 2020 and October 2021, Baiyewu orchestrated a conspiracy involving at least six other individuals in both the United States and Nigeria. Utilizing encrypted messaging applications like WhatsApp, Baiyewu and his co-conspirators coordinated the laundering of illicit funds. These funds were used to purchase salvaged cars, which were then shipped to Nigeria.

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Between approximately May 2020 and October 2021, Baiyewu worked with at least six other co-conspirators in the United States and Nigeria. Using encrypted messaging applications, such as WhatsApp, Baiyewu and his co-conspirators coordinated the receipt and use of illicit money to purchase salvaged cars and then ship them to Nigeria.

In one specific instance detailed by the Justice Department, Baiyewu conspired to launder funds stolen from a Puerto Rican renewable energy company. This company was defrauded into sending approximately $280,000 via wire transfer to accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Baiyewu then facilitated the laundering of these funds by arranging the purchase of U.S.-based cars for export to Nigeria, benefiting his co-conspirators.

A federal jury found Baiyewu guilty in August 2025. The Justice Department's Criminal Division, through its Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative, actively works to dismantle cyber-enabled criminal networks that target Americans. The initiative focuses on prosecuting financial crimes conducted online, including investment scams, romance scams, and government imposter schemes.

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in one instance, Baiyewu conspired to launder funds obtained from a business email compromise scheme perpetrated against a Puerto Rican renewable energy company, which was tricked into sending approximately $280,000 by wire to bank accounts controlled by fraudsters and money launderers.