Forty-seven-year-old Dotun Alonge, residing in Providence, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha on Tuesday. 

He is the fifth and final foreign national involved in a sophisticated scam operation originating from Nigeria, which defrauded elderly Americans of over $1.7 million. His prison sentence is the latest development in the popular case.

The elaborate scheme, which preyed upon elderly individuals across several states, including Rhode Island, involved scammers initiating false romantic relationships via online social media platforms and dating sites.

Leveraging these fabricated connections, the perpetrators convinced victims to provide financial assistance for purported business ventures or personal debt relief. 

Additionally, victims were deceived into believing they had won sweepstakes, requiring upfront payments to claim the prize, or were duped into paying rent for property falsely claimed by the scammers.

 “Foreign nationals who believe that Rhode Island seniors are easy prey for fraud schemes should think again,” said Mr Cunha.  “Preying on the emotions of vulnerable victims to gain access to their hard-earned savings is as despicable as it is devastating, and we and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to make sure that those responsible face justice.”

Mr Cunha condemned the exploitation of vulnerable seniors, emphasizing the commitment of law enforcement to ensure justice for victims of such despicable schemes.

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, Jodi Cohen, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the devastating impact on victims who often lost their life savings to such fraudulent activities.

“These con men had no compunction about swindling elderly victims all over the country out of their hard-earned money and playing on their emotions to do so. What they did wasn’t just cowardly, it was cruel,” said Mr Cohen.

He added, “There is no way we can make the victims of these schemes, many who have lost their life savings, whole again. Hopefully, they can find some solace in knowing these fraudsters are now spending time behind bars for their selfish and disgraceful conduct. 

“The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never stop working to shut down elder fraud schemes like this, to protect older folks from those who want to take advantage of them. If you or someone you know has been victimised, please reach out to us.’’

The investigation revealed that funds obtained from victims were routed through bank accounts controlled by the defendants in Rhode Island, Idaho, and elsewhere, before being transferred to Nigeria. Some proceeds were used to purchase vehicles shipped to Nigeria, further obscuring the money trail.

Previously, Olabode Shaba, Dotun Olawale Oladipupu Shodipo, Samson Ikotun, and Oluwaseyi Akintola were convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from time served to 42 months. Each defendant has been ordered to pay restitution totalling approximately $455,750 jointly and severally with each other.

Furthermore, deportation proceedings await several defendants upon completion of their incarceration, while a sixth defendant, Adetunji Abudu, remains a fugitive from justice.

The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Denise M. Barton, with investigative support from the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The collaborative effort involved various law enforcement agencies nationwide, including United States Customs and Border Patrol, United States Secret Service, and multiple state and local police departments.