A 33-year-old Nigerian man named Edikan Adiakpan has been arrested in Houston, Texas, for his involvement in a massive money laundering and business email compromise scheme.

 

 

 

This was announced Thursday, June 26, 2025, in a press release by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

 

 

 

 

Authorities detained Edikan Adiakpan, who appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray for the first time today.

 

 

 

 

Adiakpan was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to transmit illegal funds in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Houston on June 11.

 

 

 

The indictment alleges that in 2021, Adiakpan and co-conspirators carried out a business email compromise scheme targeting companies in at least eight states, including a California research group focused on developing treatments for U.S. veterans.

 

 

 

Victims received “spoofed” emails that appeared to come from known suppliers and creditors, according to the charges. They were allegedly tricked into sending payments to bank accounts the fraudsters controlled instead of the actual suppliers.

 

 

 

The charges further allege the conspirators laundered the funds by quickly transferring the money between multiple bank accounts they controlled. They then allegedly converted the funds into cashier’s’ checks. Adiakpan allegedly cashed the checks and kept a percentage as a fee.

 

 

 

 

Another Nigerian citizen, Ayobami Omoniyi, 26, was previously charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of the same scheme and is awaiting sentencing before U.S District Judge Andrew S. Hanen.

 

 

 

If convicted, Adiakpan faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges and up to five years for the illegal money transmitting. Each conviction carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

 

 

 

FBI – Houston and its Bryan Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Christine Lu are prosecuting the case.