The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) has announced the recovery of more than $10,000 for a victim of a cryptocurrency-based romance scam. The case involves Sunday Adebola, a Nigerian national who was charged in October 2023 with grand theft, scheme to defraud, money laundering, fraudulent use of a money service business, and stolen valor. If he enters the United States, Adebola faces up to 30 years in prison.
An Alachua County judge ordered the forfeiture of 10,348.982117 Tether assets seized during the investigation. As a result, $10,087.25 was returned to the victim.
“This result is the first of its kind in the state of Florida, and with the hard work of OFR investigators, the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Cyber Fraud Unit, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, we were able to return approximately 94 percent of the victim’s money,” said OFR Commissioner Russell C. Weigel III. “The Office of Financial Regulation will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to protect Floridians from financial scams.”
Adebola used an online dating website under the alias Jayden Wallace, claiming to be a U.S. Army soldier stationed overseas. He gained trust and affection from his Florida victim by persuading her to provide personal information and send him money via Bitcoin for supposed expenses like flight tickets and tax debts.
The victim transferred $13,490 in Bitcoin through a virtual currency kiosk. An investigation found that Adebola converted this Bitcoin into Tether using an international virtual asset service provider.
The OFR led the investigation with assistance from both the Florida Attorney General’s Office and an international virtual asset service provider in seizing Tether assets.
Floridians are encouraged to report suspicious financial activities at www.flofr.gov or by calling (850) 487-9687.