DALLAS, TX – A Nigerian national, Abdul Waris Akinsanya, 28, has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following his conviction in a federal romance scam case, officials confirmed.
According to ICE’s Dallas Enforcement and Removal Operations, Akinsanya was taken into custody after completing a prison sentence related to a sophisticated fraud scheme that targeted victims through fake online romantic relationships. ICE noted he has prior convictions for forgery and fleeing law enforcement in Oklahoma City.
In a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma dated March 6, 2024, Akinsanya was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in a romance scam conspiracy. He had pleaded guilty on October 12, 2023, to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Prosecutors said Akinsanya opened fraudulent bank accounts using a forged passport and false identity, including one at City National Bank in May 2020. The accounts were used by co-conspirators to deposit money sent by scam victims, including a $2,650 money order from a person in Alabama. Akinsanya reportedly kept a portion of the funds.
U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton described the scam as sophisticated and ordered Akinsanya to pay $2,650 in restitution and undergo three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office.
It is currently unclear whether Akinsanya was transferred directly to ICE custody upon completing his sentence or was rearrested following release. ICE has not yet responded to requests for additional details.
