A federal court in the United States has sentenced 25-year-old Nigerian national, Samuel Abiodun, to five years in prison for his involvement in a sextortion scheme that led to the death of a teenager. The sentencing followed his guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in December 2024.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania confirmed that the sentence was handed down on July 10 by District Judge Joel Slomsky. Abiodun was extradited from Nigeria after his arrest in Lagos on July 31, 2024, in a joint operation involving Nigerian authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Abiodun acted as a financial middleman in a group that targeted vulnerable young people online by using sexually manipulative tactics to extort money. Prosecutors described the operation as emotionally devastating, noting that Abiodun’s role contributed to the severe trauma experienced by the teenage victim, which ultimately ended in tragedy.
His co-defendant, 27-year-old Imoleayo Samuel Aina, who also goes by the name Alice Dave, was extradited alongside Abiodun and later pleaded guilty in May 2025 to charges including cyberstalking, interstate threats, extortion proceeds, and conspiracy to launder money. He is scheduled for sentencing on August 11.
A third suspect, Afeez Olatunji Adewale, also 25, remains in Nigeria. He has been charged in absentia with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Authorities are continuing efforts to secure his extradition to face charges in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Justice acknowledged the support of Nigerian government agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for facilitating the arrests and extraditions.
U.S. officials emphasized that cases like this reflect the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting cybercriminals across borders, warning that those who exploit and harm others online will be held accountable no matter where they are.
