LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A large-scale ticket resale fraud linked to the Broadway musical Wicked has cost Kentucky Performing Arts over $100,000, authorities say.
Ajibola Oduntan, a Nigerian-born man now residing in Ireland, was arrested in Grayson County last week and charged with wire fraud. Prosecutors allege that Oduntan used stolen credit card numbers to purchase more than 60 tickets for the Wicked musical, which he then resold on StubHub.
After the show, credit card companies reversed the charges, leaving Kentucky Performing Arts to absorb the losses.
Investigators said Oduntan used multiple phone numbers and email addresses to hide his identity. His scheme began to unravel when a U.S. phone number connected to his travel documents was traced to one of the fraudulent accounts.
According to the FBI, Oduntan deposited nearly $350,000 into a PayPal account over 18 months from these illegal StubHub sales. Authorities also believe a co-conspirator, using the online alias “Stacy Marthins,” resold at least 77 additional tickets tied to the scam.
It’s unclear whether buyers of the fraudulent tickets were able to attend the events.
Law enforcement advises consumers to buy tickets directly from official venues, verify refund policies, and use secure payment methods to avoid scams like this.
The FBI and Kentucky Performing Arts declined to comment further as the investigation is ongoing.
