The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has apprehended Mercy Ojedeji, a Nigerian who falsified academic transcripts to gain admission to the University of Missouri in St. Louis County, securing a tuition waiver of $49,000, stipends, and additional benefits.
Investigations revealed that Mr. Ojedeji, 24, fabricated his transcripts, resume, letters of recommendation, and an English Language proficiency report to bolster his application for a PhD program in Chemistry.
After securing admission in Fall 2023 and opening a bank account using the fraudulently obtained credentials, Mr. Ojedeji began skipping classes. He also neglected his assistantship responsibilities and failed to join a research group, actions that ultimately led to his expulsion from the university in February 2024 and the cancellation of his student visa.
Mr. Ojedeji first came to the FBI’s attention after numerous complaints from romance scam victims directed agents to his girlfriend’s residence, an address used to receive cash and gift cards.
FBI agents monitored 35 Express Mail packages sent to the address over two weeks, specifically between December 19, 2023, and January 4, 2024.
A court-issued search warrant for the residence revealed that “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,” according to a statement by the U.S.
Attorney’s Office on Thursday, April 10.
Mr. Ojedeji pleaded guilty to charges of using forged immigration documents and committing wire fraud in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis, as U.S. prosecutors argued that his intended scam surpassed $1 million.
The Nigerian national now faces a potential 20-year prison sentence.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli