US Court Sentences Nigerian Man in Sextortion Case
A 27-year-old Nigerian national, Afeez Olatunji Adewale, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud, stemming from an online sexual extortion scheme that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old college student in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Joel H. Slomsky on July 24, 2026. The announcement was made by United States Attorney David Metcalf in a Department of Justice press release.
Justice Department Vows to Pursue Scammers
“All three defendants have finally been brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “I hope that their arrests, extradition, and prosecution make clear that the DOJ will go after those terrorizing our young people — no matter where the scammers and sextortionists may be. Though this case is now closed, our thoughts will remain with a family and community forever changed.”
Adewale was extradited from Nigeria to the United States in February 2026 and pleaded guilty in April 2026. He was originally arrested in Nigeria on August 17, 2023, as part of a joint operation with the FBI targeting sexual extortionists whose victims were in the United States.
International Cooperation Led to Arrest
Extradition was facilitated by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, and the FBI. Nigerian authorities, including the Attorney General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, provided essential support.
“Today’s sentencing illustrates criminals cannot evade justice, even outside of our borders,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “This final sentencing is the result of diligent investigative work and close coordination with our domestic and international law enforcement partners. This case is a testament to the FBI’s unwavering commitment to pursuing those who exploit others online, regardless of where they operate. Most importantly, today’s sentence represents our continued commitment to seeking justice for victims and their loved ones.”
Local Police Highlight Federal Partnership
Chief Patrick Molloy of the Abington Township Police Department underscored the importance of federal collaboration: “The capabilities of local police departments to expand an investigation beyond the borders of the U.S. is extremely limited. We must rely on the expertise of the FBI and other federal law enforcement partners, which is exactly what occurred in this case. We are grateful for the federal agents and prosecutors who worked so hard to bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice. This could have been anyone’s child, and while this prosecution may provide some measure of relief, the pain and suffering for this family will never go away.”
Co-Defendants Also Sentenced
Adewale’s co-defendants, Imoleayo Samuel Aina (27) and Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun (26) were extradited to the U.S. in August 2024. Abiodun pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud and was sentenced by Judge Slomsky in June 2025 to five years in prison. Aina pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud, and was sentenced in October 2025 to six years in prison.
The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency and the Abington Township Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Brown.
