US authorities claim that Adepoju created fictitious accounts to pose as employees and drain funds after breaking into the email system of a Pennsylvania construction company that was employed by a university.
Adepoju, who was detained on September 15, 2025, is awaiting extradition to face a seven-count indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania, according to a statement posted by the US Department of Justice on its website on Thursday.
Adepoju allegedly remotely accessed a protected computer owned by the construction company between March and April 2023, according to the indictment, which was unsealed on Thursday.
He is accused of changing email policies, creating a fake domain, and using it to send the institution fictitious payment instructions.
Based on the emails, the university transferred roughly $235,266 (₦363m) to a bogus account under Adepoju’s control for the construction company’s payment details.
The money hasn’t been retrieved.
“Adepoju is charged with using sophisticated cyber means to illegally access accounts belonging to a business in order to victimize one of our region’s universities,” stated Troy Rivetti, acting US attorney. But the Federal Bureau of Investigation could still conduct an investigation into Adepoju, even from halfway around the globe. His arrest in the UK demonstrates our district’s steadfast dedication to actively seeking out and apprehending cybercriminals.
globally with the support of our domestic and international law enforcement partners.
“Criminals who believe they can travel across the world into the United States to enrich themselves at the expense of the American public need to know one thing: the FBI and our partners are not going to let you get away with it.” “We will find you and bring you to justice, no matter where you might be,” said Kevin Rojek, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Pittsburgh. Email compromise schemes are one of the most expensive risks that institutions, organizations, and corporations of all sizes face today; they are not victimless crimes.
Adepoju is charged with one count of computer fraud and six counts of wire fraud.
The maximum sentence for each wire fraud charge is 20 years in jail, whereas the maximum sentence for a computer fraud charge is five years.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, and Assistant US Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is leading the prosecution with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
Authorities emphasized that Adepoju is deemed innocent until proven guilty and that an indictment is merely an accusation.
