Rotimi Oladimeji, a Nigerian-born fraudster with a long trail of financial crimes, has been re-arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Orleans, years after serving time for a multimillion-dollar scam that targeted victims across Nigeria and the United States.
ICE, in a statement posted to its verified X account, on Monday, September 8, described Oladimeji as a “criminal alien” with a history of mail and wire fraud, noting that he had been ordered to pay over $1.1 million in restitution before his arrest.
Oladimeji, originally from Oyo State, was convicted in 2018 for orchestrating a complex web of fraudulent schemes, including fake investment platforms and romance scams. Operating out of a St. Louis address, he posed as a veterinarian and animal behaviorist in an online relationship with a woman who was eventually defrauded of nearly $1.17 million.
According to court documents, Oladimeji received 20% of the stolen funds, while the rest was funneled through a network of money mules, including Olumide Akinrinmade and Adewale Adesanya, both based in Texas. The funds were transferred to co-conspirators in Nigeria, making the operation a transnational fraud ring.
Prosecutors revealed that Oladimeji used the proceeds to purchase a $1.7 million mansion in Texas, despite having no legitimate source of income. He was also linked to the infamous “Money But No Ghana Must Go” scam, which involved tricking victims with briefcases allegedly filled with cash.
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In December 2022, Oladimeji pleaded guilty to multiple counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy, and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. He was released under three years of supervised probation in December 2023, but remained under ICE surveillance due to his immigration status.
His recent arrest is part of a broader crackdown by ICE targeting illegal and criminal migrants. Legal analysts warn that Oladimeji’s case underscores the growing sophistication of international fraud networks and the challenges of post-conviction monitoring.
It remains unclear whether Oladimeji will face deportation or additional charges, but ICE has confirmed that further legal proceedings are underway.
His arrest has reignited public discourse around cybercrime, immigration enforcement, and the need for stronger cross-border cooperation in tackling financial fraud.
