Nigerian Man Nabbed in US for Multimillion-Dollar Email Scam Targeting Veterans’ Health Group
A 33-year-old Nigerian man, Edikan Adiakpan, was arrested in Houston, Texas, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, for his alleged role in a massive business email compromise (BEC) and money laundering scheme that swindled millions of dollars from organizations across eight US states. The scam hit hard, targeting a California-based medical research group working on treatments for US military veterans, among others, leaving communities stunned and calling for justice.
According to the US Department of Justice, Adiakpan and his accomplices carried out the fraud in 2021 by sending fake emails that looked like they came from trusted suppliers. These “spoofed” emails tricked companies into sending payments to bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
The group then moved the stolen money through multiple bank accounts to hide it, converting it into cashier’s checks. Adiakpan allegedly cashed these checks, keeping a portion as his fee. Another Nigerian, 26-year-old Ayobami Omoniyi, was also charged in the scheme and is awaiting sentencing.
The scam hit organizations in states like California, Texas, and others, with the California medical research group losing funds meant for veterans’ healthcare. “This is a disgrace,” said a Houston resident, Chidi Okeke. “Stealing from those helping our veterans is heartless.” The FBI’s Houston Field Office, its Bryan Resident Agency, and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit worked together to catch Adiakpan, who faces a three-count indictment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and operating an unlicensed money transmission business.
If convicted, Adiakpan could face up to 20 years in prison for the fraud and money laundering charges, plus five years for the illegal money transmission, with fines up to $250,000 per count. He appeared before US Magistrate Judge Peter Bray in Houston on Friday, June 27, 2025, for his initial court hearing. The case has sparked outrage online, with many Nigerians on X calling it a “shame” and urging the government to tackle cybercrime. “These scams are giving us a bad name,” posted @Local_man2479.
As the investigation continues, people are asking how such scams can be stopped and whether more needs to be done to protect organizations helping veterans. What do you think can be done to prevent these cybercrimes?