Mercy Ojedeji, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents and one count of wire fraud.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced on Friday, April 11, that Mercy Ojedeji, 24, admitted he fraudulently obtained the student visa and admission into the University’s chemistry PhD program. He used the visa to get a Social Security card, driver’s license, bank account and an apartment.
Court documents indicate that Ojedeji pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to the unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents and wire fraud. He admitted he used counterfeit academic transcripts, recommendations, a resume and a report about his English language proficiency to get the visa from Mizzou.
Investigators noted that Ojedeji also obtained a stipend and tuition waiver worth nearly $50,000 as he presented the student visa and other documents to the Social Security Administration to get a Social Security card and number.
According to law enforcement officials, Ojedeji used the fraudulently obtained Social Security information as well as documents produced by his paramour to rent an apartment. After he failed to attend classes and his assistantship or join a research group, he failed out of the graduate program in January 2024.
Court records revealed that as a result, Ojedeji’s student visa was also terminated. On Feb. 26, 2024, he used the fraudulently obtained and now invalid visa, as well as other documents, to get a Missouri driver’s license.
Investigators noted that the case against Ojedeji began when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service received complaints that romance fraud victims mailed packages that contained cash and gift cards to the home of Ojedeji’s partner.
According to investigators, between Dec. 19, 2023, and Jan. 4, 2024, around 35 Express Mail packages tracked by Nigerian romance scam internet protocol were delivered to the partner’s home. A search warrant revealed that nearly 200 packages were sent as part of the romance fraud scheme.
At sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is expected to argue that the total intended loss is more than $1 million, based on the funds found inside seized packages. Ojedeji continues to deny any involvement in the romance fraud.
Ultimately, a judge is set to determine the loss amount at Ojedeji’s sentencing hearing on July 10. He could face up to 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for the wire fraud and immigration charges.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to defending the nation’s mail system from criminal activity, preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail, and protecting United States Postal Service employees. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service values our law enforcement partners for supporting our mission to protect the integrity of the U.S. Mail,” said Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.
The USPS Inspection Service said it investigated the case with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Town and Country Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is the assigned prosecutor. No further information has been released.
