A Nigerian man, Opeyemi Olujobi, also known as Tyler Olujobi, and his wife, Jennie Davidson, are facing serious criminal charges in the United States over an alleged credit card fraud and identity theft scheme.
United States authorities announced the case through a statement from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
According to investigators, the couple allegedly used stolen identities and fraudulent access to hundreds of credit card accounts belonging to victims across New York.
Officials claimed the suspects impersonated account holders by using names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers, and addresses to gain control of more than 200 store credit card accounts.
Authorities said the suspects then changed account details, including mailing addresses and phone numbers, before requesting replacement cards to be sent to addresses under their control in Hopewell Junction, New York.
After obtaining the cards, prosecutors alleged that the pair used them to make about $575,000 in unauthorised purchases, including gift cards and other goods across stores in the Tri State area.
Investigators also said surveillance footage reportedly captured the defendants during several transactions.
The wife was additionally accused of laundering proceeds from the alleged fraud through an online betting account before transferring funds into her personal bank account.
The couple were arrested in Poughkeepsie, New York, on Tuesday, April 21, and later appeared before a federal court in White Plains.
They face multiple charges including conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.
If convicted on all counts, they could face decades in prison, although any final sentence would be determined by the court.
The case is being prosecuted by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
