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    Nigerian Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in US for $1.6 Million Romance Scam Targeting Widow

    Adetomiwa Seun Akindele, a 37-year-old Nigerian national living in Minnesota, has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison for defrauding a widowed Colorado woman of $1.6 million through a romance scam. The sentencing was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado on September 16, 2025.

    Akindele pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. He was ordered to pay $1,692,945 in restitution and a forfeiture money judgment of the same amount. Upon completing his prison term, Akindele will be deported to Nigeria.

    The scam began in early 2018 when Akindele created a fake online persona, “Frank Labato,” a wealthy Italian American businessman, on a dating site. He established contact with the victim in February 2018, gradually gaining her trust through emails and phone calls, sharing false personal and professional details along with fabricated images.

    Claiming to face a financial crisis related to his “business abroad,” Akindele convinced the victim to open a cryptocurrency exchange account and wire over $1.6 million. He then laundered the funds using multiple cryptocurrency exchanges, converting it back to U.S. dollars and depositing it into his bank accounts.

    To maintain the victim’s trust, Akindele issued three fraudulent promissory notes promising repayment, which never materialized.

    U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly highlighted the importance of this conviction in delivering justice and cautioning the public against online scams. FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek emphasized the persistent and manipulative nature of romance scammers and commended the investigative efforts that led to Akindele’s conviction.

    The sentencing was overseen by United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha A. Paluch and investigation by the FBI Denver Field Office.

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