A U.S. District Court in St. Louis has sentenced a Nigerian, Mercy Ojedeji, 26, to 41 months in federal prison for using fraudulent documents to obtain a student visa, admission to the University of Missouri, and multiple U.S. identification documents, including a Social Security card and a driver’s licence.
U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey delivered the sentence on Monday, following Ojedeji’s guilty plea in April to one count of unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents and one count of wire fraud. Prosecutors said Ojedeji used counterfeit transcripts, recommendation letters, a résumé and an English proficiency report to secure admission into the university’s chemistry PhD programme in fall 2023, receiving a stipend and tuition waiver valued at more than $49,000.
Authorities said Ojedeji further leveraged the fraudulently obtained visa and documents to acquire a Social Security number, open a bank account and rent an apartment. His visa was later terminated after the university removed him from the graduate programme in January 2024 for failing to attend classes, join a research group or perform his assistantship duties.
Prosecutors also revealed that Ojedeji participated in the money-laundering activities of his partner, Shirley Waller, who is currently serving a 93-month sentence for aiding online scammers and committing pandemic and mortgage fraud. Investigators alleged that Ojedeji and Waller used a fraudulently opened bank account to funnel proceeds of Waller’s criminal schemes to Nigeria. Authorities intercepted 17 packages containing $94,150, though a total of 193 packages had been sent to the home the pair shared. The intended loss from their scheme was estimated at more than $1 million.
Victims of the fraud provided emotional statements to the court. One individual who lost $47,000 described being misled by a fabricated story about a widowed orthopedic surgeon working in a refugee hospital. Another victim said their water was cut off for a month after sending money to scammers.
Despite the termination of his visa, Ojedeji used the invalid documents on February 26, 2024, to obtain a Missouri driver’s licence, which was then used to open the bank account that facilitated the pair’s money-mule operations.
Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Chicago Division emphasised the agency’s commitment to protecting the U.S. mail system. “Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilise the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others in order to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims, including those most vulnerable,” she said.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the FBI and the Town and Country Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry led the prosecution.
