A 24-year-old Nigerian student, Mercy Ojedeji, has been arrested by the FBI for running a fraud scheme that included fake school documents, romance scams, and immigration violations. Authorities say the scam was worth over $1 million.

Ojedeji used fake transcripts, recommendation letters, and test results to get into a PhD Chemistry program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the fall of 2023. Because of the fake documents, he received a full scholarship worth $49,000 along with other benefits.

However, he did not attend classes, skipped his duties as a teaching assistant, and never joined a research group. By February 2024, the university removed him from the program and his student visa was canceled.

The FBI started looking into Ojedeji after receiving complaints from people who were tricked in online romance scams. The investigation led them to a house linked to his girlfriend.

They found that this house received money and gift cards from victims. Between December 2023 and January 2024, 35 mail packages were sent to the address. In total, 193 packages had been sent there during their relationship.

The FBI later searched the home and arrested Ojedeji. He was charged with wire fraud and using fake immigration papers. He has now pleaded guilty in court and could spend up to 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing will happen soon.