A 43-year-old Nigerian, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been arraigned in the United States (US) over an alleged scheme to obtain more than $100 million in fraudulent tax refunds using stolen identities.

Raheem was extradited from the Republic of Benin, where he was arrested in April, to face federal charges including fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, he appeared in court on Monday following his indictment and was remanded in the custody of the US Marshals Service pending further proceedings.

Prosecutors Allege More Than 300 Fake Returns

US prosecutors alleged that Raheem and his co-conspirators filed more than 300 fraudulent tax returns between 2018 and 2023 using the identities of tax professionals and American taxpayers.

They said Raheem, who previously lived in Atlanta, Georgia, worked with Abayomi Quadri Eletu, a resident of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, and other associates to obtain personal information, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers.

The information was allegedly used to file false tax returns, with refund payments directed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to prepaid debit cards sent to addresses controlled by the suspects.

Proceeds Allegedly Used to Buy Cars

According to prosecutors, some of the proceeds were laundered through money orders and used to purchase second-hand vehicles at auctions. Some of the cars were subsequently shipped to Nigeria.

The funds were also allegedly spent on designer clothing and other items.

“The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering,” Theodore Hertzberg, the US attorney, said.

Arrest Followed International Manhunt

US authorities said federal agents attempted to arrest Raheem at his home in April, but a man who identified himself as Raheem told them through a video doorbell that he was not home.

Less than a week later, investigators reportedly discovered that he had booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin. He arrived in the country on April 15 and was arrested by local authorities following an INTERPOL red notice.

The US Attorney’s Office said Raheem was extradited to the United States last week, marking the second extradition of its kind from Benin.

A federal grand jury in Georgia indicted him on February 24 on multiple charges.

Nigerian Faces Multiple Charges

If convicted, Raheem faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, another 20 years for money laundering and up to 10 years for access device fraud.

He also faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence for aggravated identity theft.

Meanwhile, Eletu was separately indicted in Texas on February 17 and later arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings are pending.