ATLANTA — Akinade Adedeji Raheem was arraigned in Atlanta on Monday on federal charges following his extradition from Benin. The 43-year-old Nigerian citizen faces counts of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

The indictment alleges that between 2018 and 2023, Raheem and Abayomi Quadri Eletu conspired to claim fraudulent tax refunds using the stolen identities of accountants and American taxpayers. The conspirators allegedly filed more than 300 false tax returns claiming over $100 million in refunds from the IRS.

Raheem, Eletu, and others allegedly obtained sensitive identifying information, including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, by creating online accounts with the IRS and requesting private taxpayer information. The conspirators allegedly directed the IRS to split fraudulent refunds among prepaid debit cards shipped to addresses controlled by the co-conspirators.

"Raheem and his co-conspirators allegedly obtained hundreds of stolen identities, filed fraudulent tax returns using that information, and laundered the proceeds through prepaid debit cards and purchases of used cars that were shipped to Nigeria and other locations," U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said.

Raheem and Eletu allegedly laundered funds by purchasing money orders in amounts low enough to avoid reporting thresholds. The conspirators allegedly used money orders to purchase used cars from auction sites, some of which were shipped to Nigeria, as well as designer clothing and other items.

Federal law enforcement agents sought to arrest Raheem at his residence in April 2026. During the attempt, a man who identified himself as Raheem stated via video doorbell that he was not home. Less than a week later, agents learned that Raheem booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin.

On April 15, 2026, Raheem flew into Benin and was arrested by local authorities pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice. Benin authorities extradited Raheem to the United States last week, marking the second extradition to the United States from Benin in history.

"Raheem is an alleged co-conspirator in a nationwide identity theft scheme that victimized hundreds of taxpayers," said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Texas Field Office.

Raheem faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, 20 years for money laundering, 10 years for access device fraud, and a mandatory two years for aggravated identity theft. He was detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.