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Rhode Island Man arrested In Florida In June 2019 Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Launder Funds From Email Compromise Scheme

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Sayon Balogun a/k/a “Oshine,” 32, a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Sayon Balogun a/k/a “Oshine,” 32, a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Photo: MyLife, RI, Providence, Seyon Balogun

BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced today in connection with a conspiracy to launder funds derived from business email compromise (BEC) schemes, including one that targeted a Dorchester, Mass. real estate attorney.    

Sayon Balogun a/k/a “Oshine,” 32, a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $434,832 in restitution. Balogun was initially charged by criminal complaint on May 31, 2019, and arrested in Florida on June 10, 2019.

In January 2018, Balogun’s co-conspirators gained access to email accounts belonging to a Massachusetts attorney engaged in real estate closings. The co-conspirators then mimicked (spoofed) the real estate attorney’s email account and sent emails to a Massachusetts resident who was the purchaser in a legitimate real estate transaction. The spoofed emails directed the Massachusetts real estate purchaser to wire transfer $531,981 (which the purchaser believed was for a legitimate real estate transaction) to the Wells Fargo account of a California woman, who in turn sent $60,000 to an account in the name of “David Tecum,” a fraudulent identity used by one of Balogun’s co-conspirators, Oghenetchouwe Adegor Ederaine, Jr. This account, and others, were opened by Ederaine to receive fraudulent proceeds at Balogun’s direction.

Ederaine pleaded guilty in April 2019 to aggravated identity theft and money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 40 months in prison.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI in the Southern District of Florida provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

George McGregor

Mr. McGregor is our staff news reporter who focuses primarily on reviewing and editing (if necessary) all media alerts and press releases for The Published Reporter. Media advisories, alerts and press releases can be sent via email to [email protected] and, if approved, will be published free of charge. There is no guarantee your release will be published; inclusion is at the discretion of our editors. We receive hundreds of media advisories and news alerts per day and choose a select few for publication. Please see our editorial guidelines and terms of service.

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