HOUSTON, Texas — A 33-year-old Houston man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a significant business email compromise and money laundering operation, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Edikan Adiakpan is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m.
A federal grand jury in Houston indicted Adiakpan on June 11 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and illegal money transmission. The indictment claims that in 2021, Adiakpan and his co-conspirators executed a scheme targeting companies across at least eight states, including a California research group focused on developing treatments for U.S. veterans. Victims were allegedly deceived by “spoofed” emails that appeared to be from known suppliers, leading them to send payments to accounts controlled by the fraudsters instead of the actual suppliers.
The charges further allege that the conspirators laundered the funds by rapidly transferring money between multiple bank accounts they controlled, eventually converting the funds into cashier’s checks. Adiakpan is accused of cashing these checks and retaining a percentage as a fee. Another individual, 26-year-old Ayobami Omoniyi, has also been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the scheme and is awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen…