A 33-year-old Nigerian man, Edikan Adiakpan, has been arrested in Houston, Texas, over his alleged involvement in a multi-million dollar business email compromise (BEC) and money laundering operation spanning at least eight U.S. states.
The U.S. Attorney, Nicholas J. Ganjei, announced the arrest on Thursday. Adiakpan appeared before Magistrate Judge Peter Bray the same day, following a three-count federal indictment issued on June 11.
According to court documents, Adiakpan and his co-conspirators executed a sophisticated 2021 scheme by sending d+ceptive emails that impersonated legitimate vendors and business partners. The emails tricked victims — including a California-based research institution aiding U.S. veterans — into wiring funds into accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
Prosecutors allege the stolen money was funneled through multiple bank accounts, then converted into cashier’s checks. Adiakpan is accused of cashing out some of the checks and keeping a cut as commission.
Another Nigerian, 26-year-old Ayobami Omoniyi, has also been indicted in the case and is awaiting sentencing.
If found guilty, Adiakpan faces up to 20 years in prison each for the wire fr@ud and money la¥ndering charges, and up to five years for conspiracy to transmit illeg@l funds. Each charge also carries a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Houston Division and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Christine Lu.
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