Ghana extradites Nigerian to face charges in US over bank fraud

Between January 2014 to October 2016, Adeleke worked as an administrator for an online shop, called Shadow.info where compromised credit numbers and personally identifiable information was sold.

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Ghana on June 28, 2022, extradited a Nigerian, 31-year-old Blessing Adeleke to the United States for his alleged role in a financial fraud scheme in the state of Ohio and elsewhere. 

Mr. Adeleke was arrested in Ghana on March 14, 2022, according to a news release from the US Department of Justice, in the Northern District of Ohio, and is facing a 17-count indictment, with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and 16 counts of bank fraud.

“A Nigerian national made his initial appearance in a federal court in Cleveland today following his extradition from Ghana to the Northern District of Ohio to face charges for his alleged role in a conspiracy that obtained stolen financial information, made fraudulent and unauthorized purchases of retail goods and gift cards and stole funds from victim bank accounts in Northern Ohio and elsewhere” the July 1, 2022 release said.

Between January 2014 to October 2016, Adeleke worked as an administrator for an online shop, called Shadow.info where compromised credit numbers and personally identifiable information were sold, court documents said. 

US officials say Adeleke, his co-defendant Kylie Ann Harlow and others obtained stolen credit card information and purchased items, such as retail goods and gift cards for themselves.

“The indictment states that Adeleke and Harlow shipped retail goods purchased with the stolen financial information to Harlow and others and, in some instances, returned the goods and gift cards to retail stores to obtain cash.  It is alleged that Adeleke and Harlow eventually forwarded the fraudulently obtained goods, gift cards, and cash to other members of the conspiracy for their personal enrichment.

Additionally, Adeleke is charged with gaining access to online victim bank accounts in Northern Ohio and elsewhere and transferring thousands of dollars to Harlow and other members of the conspiracy,” it said.

Kylie Ann Harlow is said to have pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme and was sentenced in June 2021.

“This case was investigated by the FBI.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Riedl and Brian S. Deckert.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support and assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Ghana. The U.S. Department of Justice thanks its Ghanaian partners, specifically the Ministry of Interior and the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, for supporting this extradition.  The FBI Legal Attaché in Accra and the U.S. Marshals Service also provided significant support and assistance to Adeleke’s extradition,” it said.