By Damali Keith
HOUSTON – You may recall a significant Department of Justice operation that led to the arrest of 23 individuals involved in a widespread romance scam. Among those charged was Houston doctor Dr. Segun Adeoye, who emerged as the only individual to be acquitted.
Dr. Adeoye spent 30 months in jail, classified as a flight risk and denied bond, before a jury found him not guilty in March 2024.
“It feels like a horror movie,” Dr. Adeoye remarked, but the ordeal has been far more terrifying than fiction.
In 2021, Adeoye traveled to assist a hospital in Kermit, Texas, during a surge in COVID-19 cases. On his first day, he was apprehended by federal agents in the emergency room and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud.
“It was shocking. I asked the FBI agent, ‘Are you sure you have the right name?’ He replied, ‘Yes, it’s you.’ I lost my dad while I was incarcerated, without a chance to grieve or attend his funeral. He passed away believing his son, whom he raised right, was in jail,” Adeoye explained.
Dr. Adeoye, originally from Nigeria, believes he was wrongfully implicated due to his association with a childhood friend who was among those charged in the DOJ bust. This operation involved a romance scam that defrauded hundreds of Americans out of $17 million, with all co-defendants convicted except for Adeoye.
“It has been incredibly difficult. I spent Christmas in a cell flooded with excrement. Now that I’m free, some friends avoid me because of lingering doubts about my innocence. It’s an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I always believed I would be found not guilty; it was just the waiting that nearly broke me,” he said.
Since his release, Adeoye has struggled to find work in the medical field, as many major hospitals refuse to hire him. While in jail, he lost two homes, and his attorney, Femi Ogunjumelo of Mayday Law Office, emphasized the ongoing challenges Adeoye faces.
“I had no doubt I would be acquitted. My concern now is how to restore my reputation,” Dr. Adeoye said.
Community activist Quanell X expressed outrage at the situation, stating, “Dr. Adeoye’s name, livelihood, and career were stolen from him under false pretenses. We are suing the U.S. government for accountability.”
Dr. Adeoye is seeking nearly $400 million in damages, arguing that monetary compensation may never fully address the hardships he has endured.
As of now, the Department of Justice has not responded to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit.
