A 60-year-old Nigerian man residing in the United States, Bamikole Laniyan, faces a possible 52-year prison sentence and deportation after pleading guilty to his involvement in a $1.7 million bank fraud and money laundering scheme.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Laniyan, also known as Daniyan, collaborated with conspirators, led by Oluwaseun, to steal personal identities of U.S. citizens to fraudulently obtain loans, cash, and checks from financial institutions.
Laniyan pleaded guilty to conspiracy, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft in a New York court.
The statement revealed that he worked with Adekoya to recruit lower-level conspirators who used fake identification documents to impersonate victims and access funds from financial institutions and retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue.
Further investigations showed that Laniyan also helped launder proceeds from the fraud, using stolen funds to purchase additional counterfeit identification and deposit fraudulent checks into bank accounts controlled by co-conspirators.
The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed that Laniyan had been illegally residing in the U.S. since at least the 1990s under multiple aliases. He had previously been convicted of identity theft in another federal district.
Laniyan and seven other individuals were indicted in December 2023 for their roles in the conspiracy.
The other defendants, including Sherry Ozmore, Kennedy Barriera, Jerjuan Joyner, Akeem Balogun, Danielle Cappetti, and Lesley Lucchese, have all pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy.
The DOJ further stated that at his sentencing scheduled for July 10, 2025, Laniyan faces a maximum of 30 years for bank fraud, 20 years for money laundering, and a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.
He may also be ordered to pay at least $1,776,705.43 in restitution to victims and forfeit nearly $100,000 in seized fraudulent proceeds.
Following his prison term, Laniyan will be placed in immigration removal proceedings, potentially leading to his deportation.
His case is part of ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to crack down on foreign nationals involved in financial crimes, identity theft, and other offenses.
