Adetunji Abudu, a 34‑year‑old Nigerian citizen, was arrested at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, on the night of Monday, October 21, 2026, after attempting to re‑enter the United States from Istanbul, Turkey. The capture ends a seven‑year period during which he evaded authorities following a 2019 raid on his North Providence residence.
The arrest was announced by the [United States Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov) in a statement released on Monday, October 26, 2026. Abudu appeared before the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on October 21 and was ordered to remain detained pending trial.
He is one of six individuals indicted in a superseding indictment issued by a federal grand jury in Providence. The indictment alleges that the conspirators laundered millions of dollars obtained through a series of fraud operations run from Nigeria, targeting primarily elderly residents of the United States. "The defendants laundered millions of dollars obtained through fraudulent schemes," the indictment states.
Victims were reportedly duped via online romance scams, bogus sweepstakes, false rental advertisements, and sham shipping transactions. Proceeds were funneled through bank accounts and businesses located in Rhode Island, Idaho, and other jurisdictions, with sizable sums ultimately wired to Nigeria. The conspirators also used the illicit funds to purchase vehicles that were later shipped abroad.
Abudu fled the United States for Nigeria in 2019 after the [Federal Bureau of Investigation](https://www.fbi.gov) executed a court‑authorized search of his home in North Providence. Five of his co‑defendants—Dotun Olawale Alonge, Oluwaseyi Akintol, Samson Ikotun, Olabode Shaba, and Oladipup Shodipu—subsequently pleaded guilty to money‑laundering conspiracy and received sentences ranging from time served to 42 months in prison.
**What charges does Abudu face?**
He is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and related fraud offenses tied to the alleged schemes.
**Who is prosecuting the case?**
The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
**Which agencies investigated the matter?**
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and local police departments in Tallmadge, Ohio, and Moscow, Idaho.
The case underscores ongoing transnational fraud operations that exploit vulnerable U.S. seniors and highlights the collaborative effort of U.S. law‑enforcement agencies to dismantle such networks.