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| Nigerian Credit card thieves in Minneapolis, US exposed |
2/13/2010 |
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There is palpable fear among Nigerian crime communities in the Twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, as agents of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions, BCA began rounding up some Nigerians believed to be involved in credit card theft and identity fraud in the northern part of the United States.
Eleven Nigerians, eight of who are currently being detained at the Ramsey County jail in St Paul Minnesota have been charged with multiple counts of fraud for allegedly running a counterfeit credit card scheme and stealing more than $650,000.
According to the Department of Justice the list of the charged individuals include Bashiru Adelumola Fowoshere and Titilayo Abidemi Fowoshere, both of Ramsey; Adekunle Kayode Ayeni, Yewande Mariam Sholebo, Adewale Alba Alli, Olayemi Lateef Banjoko, Idowu Ayinla Sadiq, Abiodun Banjoko and Oyetoyin Oseni Atobatele, all of Fridley; Oriyomi Enitan Olowosago of Brooklyn Park; and Ajibola Alli Fowoshere, whose address is unknown.
This reporter scooped that the alleged leader of the gang, popularly known as Delu is currently being sought in connection with the crime and is believed to have escaped to Nigeria while His wife, Bidemi and brother in law, Adekunle Kayode Ayeni who was arrested a day after his 27th birthday are currently in the clink.
The reporter was also reliable informed that Abidemi, wife of the alleged leader of the gang had been deported several times to Nigeria only for her to resurfaced back in the states "she had been deported back to Nigeria not less than three times, how she managed to come back to US still beats everyone's imagination?" added a source who does not want to be named for fear of intimidation by the members of the gang who were believed to have vast network throughout the US, Europe and Africa.
Another source claimed that the leader of the gang, a five foot tall man with a rotund belly whose family is related to a monarchy in Lagos State has been contacting network of friends in US to get lawyers to effect the release of his wife and his foot soldiers.
According to the source, Delu was allegedly said to have shipped not less than 20 assorted cars monthly to Nigeria and was said to have boasted that he could afford expensive lawyers that would handle the case. According to a source who is closed to the gang, he was alleged to have informed his foot soldiers not to blow the whistle until he had got them a lawyer.
According to information obtained by the Secret Service, one of the charged individuals allegedly boasted that he would never get caught for his crimes because he was too good at "covering his tracks
NS however gathered that there are other Nigerians still being sought in connection with fraud related crimes like, counterfeiting, credit card fraud and mail fraud among others, top among the suspects is a man believed to be a son of the special adviser to the former president of Nigeria on ecological matter whose father's house was allegedly being used for the criminal activities.
Most closed associates and friends of the gang members were said to be on the run following the breaking of the news of the arrest of eight members of the gang, others who were very closed to them are now living in fear as they were not sure of how extensive the investigation into the crime would go.
A mother of one of the suspect was said to have collapsed when news of the arrest of his son was broken to her.
News Star can authoritatively reveal that most of the family of the arrested Nigerians has had brushes with the law in the past. An impeccable source told this reporter that the wife of Idowu Sadiq was arrested about seven years ago in New York while attempting to cash a stolen $100,000 cheque from an account that did not belong to her.
She was jailed and had to deliver her first child in the prison. She was believed to have relocated to Canada where she was said to be living under a different identity.
Our reporter was also informed that the half brother of Delu Fowoshere was allegedly being investigated for credit card related offense in Minnesota. He was said to have got the wind that he was being investigated before he escaped to Canada. He too is believed to be currently living in Canada under a different identity.
Most Nigerians living in Minneapolis and Saint Paul were said to have not been surprised by the arrest of these suspects as information available indicated that most of the suspects had no visible sources of livelihood but were always seen at parties spraying Dollars like seed.
The suspects if convicted could spend up to 30 years in jail as charges preferred them carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
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| Comments | Post your comment |
I hope this type of article will be published in Nigerian newspapers and magazines and the faces of these bad guys shown to Nigerians especially the musicians who sing their praises to high heavens because of money. These few bad elements have really made life difficult for innocent Nigerians living aboad. Every where we go now, people are looking at us like we Nigerians are all criminals and it is becoming too hard to defend with people like these guys throwing money around the whole place.
The Nigerian government need to deal ruthlessly with these people when they are deported back home.
Felix Osahon
Rome, Italy
Commented by: Felix Osahon
on: Saturday, February 13, 2010 13:09
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