The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested a Nigerian man, Rotimi Oladimeji, as part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal and criminal migrants.
In a statement posted on its X page on Monday, ICE described Oladimeji as a “criminal alien,” noting that he had been previously convicted for fraud and ordered to pay more than $1.1 million in restitution.
“Nigerian criminal alien Rotimi Oladimeji’s criminal history includes mail and wire fraud. He was ordered to pay $1.1M+ in restitution before ICE New Orleans arrested him,” the agency said.
Court records show that Oladimeji was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2023 after pleading guilty to fraud. The US Department of Justice revealed that he played a role in an online romance scam that tricked a woman into believing she was in a relationship with a veterinarian in St. Louis.
“In October of 2019, Oladimeji claimed the veterinarian was going to Dubai, then said he wouldn’t be allowed to leave unless she sent money. They continued to request of the victim for four and five-figure sums,” the Justice Department explained, adding that the woman lost nearly $1.17 million.
Oladimeji received about 20 percent of the stolen funds while other accomplices, including Akinrinmade and Adesanya, also took a share before forwarding the rest to scammers in Nigeria.
Although he was placed on deportation after his conviction, Oladimeji remained in the US after completing his prison term. His arrest now places him among thousands of immigrants detained under President Donald Trump’s directive to clamp down on illegal and criminal migrants.
