"Nigerian National Extradited to U.S. for Role in Cyber Fraud and $1.3 Million Tax Scheme"

Matthew A. Akande, a Nigerian national residing in Mexico, has been extradited to the United States to face charges related to his involvement in a scheme targeting tax preparation firms in Massachusetts. The charges stem from Akande's alleged role in a sophisticated operation that involved breaking into computer networks and filing fraudulent tax returns.

The extradition follows Akande's arrest in October 2024 at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom. He was brought to the U.S. in early March 2025, where he faced federal court proceedings in Boston.

In connection with the scheme, Akande was indicted in July 2022. The charges include conspiracy to access protected computers to facilitate fraud, wire fraud, theft of government money, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. His co-conspirator, Kehinde H. Oyetunji, 33, who resides in North Dakota, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to similar charges. Oyetunji's sentencing is pending.

Between 2016 and 2021, Akande and his associates are accused of stealing personally identifiable information (PII) from taxpayers in Massachusetts. This was done through phishing emails that appeared to be from prospective clients seeking tax preparation services. These emails, however, contained malware designed to grant the attackers remote access to the tax firms’ computer systems.

Once inside the systems, Akande is said to have accessed sensitive information, including prior year’s tax details, which was then used to file fraudulent returns and seek refunds. These refunds were deposited into accounts allegedly opened by Oyetunji and others. The stolen funds were then withdrawn in cash and transferred to Mexico at Akande’s direction.

The scheme is believed to have led to over 1,000 fraudulent tax returns filed, requesting more than $8.1 million in refunds. In total, the group successfully obtained over $1.3 million in illegal refunds.

Akande now faces several serious charges. The conspiracy charge alone carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years. Other charges, such as wire fraud and theft of government money, could result in sentences of up to 20 years in prison. If convicted on the aggravated identity theft charge, Akande could face a mandatory two-year sentence, which would be served consecutively to any other sentences.

The case underscores the increasing threats posed by cybercrime, especially in relation to tax fraud. Authorities, including the U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI, and IRS, have been working together to address this issue, with coordination extending to international law enforcement agencies.

Akande's legal proceedings are ongoing, and as with all criminal cases, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.