Nigerian Man Jailed In U.S. For Sextortion Scheme That Led To Teen’s De@th
Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun, a 25-year-old Nigerian man, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a U.S. court for his involvement in a money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy linked to a sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of a young man.
The sentencing was announced on Wednesday by U.S. Attorney David Metcalf, following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
According to prosecutors, Abiodun was involved in a criminal network that exploited and extorted a local teenager online, culminating in the victim’s death. He pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2024.
Abiodun and his co-defendant, 27-year-old Imoleayo Samuel Aina — also known as “Alice Dave” — were arrested in Nigeria in July 2024 following a U.S. complaint and warrant.
They were taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and extradited to the United States. A third Nigerian co-defendant, Afeez Olatunji Adewale, 25, was also charged in the case.
The sextortion scheme involved deceiving victims through false online identities to obtain compromising material and then blackmailing them for money, often under the threat of exposure.
However, Aina pleaded guilty last month to cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 11 and faces a statutory maximum of lifetime imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Adewale has been charged with money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud. He remains in Nigeria, pending extradition to the U.S.
“As the financial middleman, Abiodun played a key role in this sextortion scheme, which thoroughly traumatized the victim and then devastated his family,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf.
“These scammers’ sole aim is to get money from scared and vulnerable young people, with absolutely no regard for their feelings or the potential fallout. In prosecuting this case, we are bringing to justice the men whose actions resulted in truly indelible harm. We also want to send a message to others like them that the Department of Justice’s reach is long, and if they keep extorting innocent Americans, they could find themselves in an American prison.”
Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, said, “This sentencing delivers a powerful message: those who exploit others through sextortion will be held accountable, no matter where they try to hide.
“The FBI, alongside our domestic and international law enforcement partners, is unwavering in our commitment to safeguard our communities — especially our youth — from predatory criminals.”
According to Chief Patrick Molloy of the Abington Township Police Department, “The capabilities of local police departments to expand an investigation beyond the borders of the U.S. are extremely limited. We must rely on the expertise of the FBI and other federal law enforcement partners, which is exactly what occurred in this case.
“We are grateful for the federal agents and prosecutors who worked so hard to bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice.
“It should send a clear message to those who choose to prey upon the most vulnerable in our community that we will proactively pursue justice beyond our borders, especially when aggravating circumstances exist. This could have been anyone’s child, and while this arrest and prosecution may provide some measure of relief, the pain and suffering for this family will never go away.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Abington Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Brown.
Aina and Abiodun were extradited to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with the assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, and the FBI.
The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities were essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
