A Nigerian man, Mercy Ojedeji, 24, has pleaded guilty in a US District Court in St. Louis, Missouri to one count of unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents and one count of wire fraud.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, April 10.

On Wednesday, April 9, Ojedeji admitted fraudulently obtaining a student visa and admission to the University of Missouri and admitted using the visa to obtain a Social Security card, a driver license, a bank account and an apartment.

Ojedeji was said to have admitted using counterfeit academic transcripts, recommendations, a resume and a report about his English language proficiency to obtain a student visa from the University of Missouri and admission to the chemistry PhD programme in the fall of 2023.

Prosecutors said Ojedeji also obtained a stipend and a tuition waiver worth more than $49,000.

He reportedly presented his student visa and other documents to the Social Security Administration to obtain a Social Security card and used the fraudulently-issued Social Security number and other documents to open a bank account.

“Ojedeji presented his student visa and other documents to the Social Security Administration to obtain a Social Security card and used the fraudulently-issued Social Security number and other documents to open a bank account.

“He also used the Social Security number and documents produced by his paramour to rent an apartment.

“After Ojedeji failed to attend classes, his assistantship or join a research group, the university terminated him from the graduate programme in January 2024.

“This also resulted in the termination of his student visa,” the statement reads.

Prosecutors said Ojedeji used his fraudulently-obtained and now invalid visa and other documents to obtain a Missouri driver licence on February 26, 2024.

Investigation into his activities commenced when the US Postal Inspection Service received complaints that romance fraud victims were mailing packages containing cash and gift cards to the home of Ojedeji’s paramour.

“Between December 19, 2023, and January 4, 2024, 35 Express Mail packages that had been tracked by Nigerian internet protocol addresses were delivered to the paramour’s address.

“A court-approved search of the home resulted in the discovery of packages sent pursuant to a Nigerian romance fraud scheme.

“A total of 193 packages were sent to the home through the Postal Services Express Mail, Federal Express, and United Parcel Service during Ojedeji’s relationship with the woman,” the statement also reads.

The US Attorney’s Office for say the total intended loss is more than $1 million, based on the $94,150 contained in the 17 packages seized by law enforcement.

Ojedeji has vehemently denied any involvement in romance fraud.

A judge will ultimately determine the loss amount at Ojedeji’s sentencing hearing, scheduled for July 10.

Wire fraud carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.

The immigration charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and the same fine. (Saturday Sun)