Nigerian National Sentenced to Eight Years in US Prison for Major Tax Fraud Scheme
A Nigerian man, Matthew A. Akande, has been handed an eight-year prison sentence in the United States for orchestrating a sophisticated hacking operation that targeted tax preparation firms in Massachusetts. The scheme involved filing fraudulent tax returns to steal government funds, with prosecutors revealing that over 1,000 fake filings were made over a five-year period.
Details of the Sentencing and Extradition
Akande, 37, was sentenced on Tuesday, February 17, by US District Court Judge Indira Talwani in federal court in Boston. In addition to the prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release and must pay $1,393,230 in restitution. The sentencing was officially disclosed on Wednesday, February 18, through a statement on a US government website. Akande was arrested in October 2024 at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom at the request of US authorities and extradited to the US on March 5, 2025. He had been indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022 on multiple charges, including conspiracy, wire fraud, unauthorized access to protected computers, theft of government money, and aggravated identity theft.
How the Fraudulent Scheme Operated
According to prosecutors, between June 2016 and June 2021, Akande collaborated with others to steal money from the US government by exploiting taxpayers' personal information. The group used phishing emails that masqueraded as potential clients seeking tax services to trick firms into downloading malicious software, such as remote access trojans like Warzone RAT. Once the malware was installed, Akande gained access to clients' personal details and prior tax records, which he then used to file fraudulent tax returns and request refunds. The refunds were directed to bank accounts opened by co-conspirators in the United States, with the money subsequently withdrawn in cash and partially transferred to third parties in Mexico under Akande's direction, while others retained a share of the proceeds.
Scale of the Fraud and Official Response
Authorities reported that the group filed more than 1,000 fake tax returns over approximately five years, seeking over $8.1 million in refunds. They successfully obtained more than $1.3 million. The case was announced by US Attorney Leah B. Foley, FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks, and IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Demeo. Federal authorities have urged businesses that suspect they have been targeted by cyberattacks to report incidents to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Taxpayers and tax firms that encounter phishing attempts are also advised to report them to the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant US Attorney David M. Holcomb prosecuted the case, with the Justice Department collaborating with UK authorities to secure Akande's extradition.
Related Developments in US Immigration Policy
In a related development, the US Department of Homeland Security has expanded its deportation list, adding 18 more Nigerians, bringing the total number set for removal under an intensified crackdown to 97. US immigration authorities described those targeted as part of a "worst-of-the-worst" enforcement effort focused on immigrants convicted of serious crimes. The expanded list was published on the DHS website on February 10, 2026, highlighting ongoing efforts to address criminal activities involving foreign nationals.
