Albuquerque Victim Duped Out of Over Half a Million
Two Nigerian nationals, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja, 39, and Abel Adeyi Daramola, 37, have been handed a potential combined 40-year sentence after being found guilty in a romance scam operation. The verdict came after a trial that lasted four days and jury deliberations that took less than three hours.
Fictitious Lover Leads to Financial Ruin
The scam, which began in January 2016, saw the creation of a fake profile named “Glenn Brown” on the dating platform eHarmony.com. This fictitious persona was used to seduce and deceive a victim from Albuquerque, New Mexico, into believing they were in a romantic relationship. Under this guise, the victim was persuaded to send money to help “Brown” with a construction project in Malaysia and fund his return to the U.S.
Victim’s Financial Losses Exceed $560,000
Between January 2016 and April 2017, the victim transferred approximately $560,000 across accounts in the U.S., Canada, and Malaysia, believing they were assisting their supposed partner.
Money Trail Leads to Daramola and Ogunlaja
A notable transaction occurred on September 27, 2016, when the victim sent $28,000 to an account under Daramola’s name, which was then split into payments to a Danish seafood importer and a personal check. Daramola, however, claimed ignorance of the scheme, but evidence including digital communications on his phone proved otherwise.
Ogunlaja’s Role in the Financial Scheme
Ogunlaja was directly involved in receiving and dispersing funds through his Bank of America account. Notable transactions included two $20,000 deposits in March 2016, followed by cash withdrawals and transfers to Daramola’s account.
Awaiting Sentencing
After the conviction, Ogunlaja and Daramola were released under conditions pending their sentencing date, which remains unscheduled. Each faces up to 20 years in prison without parole, highlighting the severe consequences of their fraudulent activities.
