Toledo, Ohio – A federal jury in Ohio has convicted three people connected to a massive international email hacking and fraud operation that authorities say stole approximately $215 million from more than 1,000 victims across the United States and around the world.
After a four-day trial in Toledo, jurors found 40-year-old Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi of Romeoville, Illinois, 37-year-old Aruan Drake of Atlanta, Georgia, and 35-year-old Peter Reed of Oak Forest, Illinois, guilty of participating in a wire fraud conspiracy tied to a large-scale business email compromise scheme. Awoyemi and Drake were also convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The trial was overseen by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp II.
Federal prosecutors described the operation as one of the largest and most sophisticated business email fraud schemes uncovered in recent years. In total, 25 defendants have now been convicted in connection with the operation.
Hackers monitored victims before stealing millions
According to court evidence, Nigerian-linked fraud groups targeted individuals, companies, and organizations by hacking into email accounts and quietly monitoring communications for extended periods. Investigators said the conspirators studied the victims’ business dealings, payment habits, and contacts before launching carefully crafted scams.
Once the cybercriminals gathered enough information, they sent fake payment requests designed to appear completely legitimate. Because the messages closely matched real business communications, victims often believed they were sending money to trusted partners or vendors.
Authorities said the stolen money was then funneled through a network of fake companies, fraudulent bank accounts, and money transfer systems to hide its origins and distribute the profits among members of the conspiracy.
Victims were spread across 47 states and 19 countries. In Ohio alone, businesses in Norwalk, Kent, Akron, Hudson, Maple Heights, Westfield Center, New Riegel, and Greenwich were affected.
Outside Ohio, victims were located in states including Texas, California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, New York, Wisconsin, Virginia, Tennessee, and many others. International victims were identified in countries such as Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Malaysia, Panama, Romania, and the United Arab Emirates.
The financial losses varied dramatically from case to case. Some victims lost tens of thousands of dollars, while others lost millions in single transactions. Prosecutors highlighted one incident where a victim business transferred $2.7 million into a shell company account controlled by conspiracy members.
Millions moved through currency exchange business
Federal investigators said nearly $50 million in stolen funds was converted into cashier’s checks and processed through a Chicago-area money service business known as the New Dolton Currency Exchange.
Authorities accused co-defendant Lon Goodman, who operated the business, of knowingly accepting fraudulent checks and false identification from members of the conspiracy. Prosecutors said Goodman continued conducting transactions even after banks warned him that some checks were linked to stolen or fraudulent funds.
When certain individuals became too risky to work with directly, investigators said checks were instead written to shell companies controlled by the same conspirators.
The investigation also led to major seizures and forfeitures. Authorities recovered nearly $1.2 million in cash, cryptocurrency, and cashier’s checks. Luxury items tied to the scheme included expensive watches such as a Patek Philippe Nautilus valued at $45,000, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak worth $30,000, and a Richard Mille Felipe Massa watch valued at approximately $140,000.
Investigators also seized or targeted for forfeiture a 4,423-square-foot home in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Long list of guilty pleas tied to the scheme
In addition to the three defendants convicted after trial, numerous others pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges. Those defendants included individuals from Illinois, Georgia, Texas, Indiana, and other states, along with several Nigerian and Ghanaian nationals living in the United States.
Federal officials said sentencing for each defendant will be determined individually based on their criminal history, role in the conspiracy, and other factors reviewed by the court.
The investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Border Patrol Sandusky Bay Intelligence Unit.
Assistant United States Attorneys Gene Crawford and Robert Melching handled the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
Authorities say the case highlights the growing danger posed by sophisticated cyber-enabled financial crimes that blend hacking, fraud, and international money laundering. Investigators also stressed that businesses and individuals remain vulnerable when criminals gain access to email accounts and closely study everyday financial communications before launching targeted scams.
