₦airaland Forum

ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Wednesday 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.

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.

Ojedeji 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 program in the fall of 2023. Ojedeji also obtained a stipend and a tuition waiver worth more than $49,000. 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 program in January 2024. This also resulted in the termination of his student visa. On Feb. 26, 2024, Ojedeji used his fraudulently-obtained and now invalid visa and other documents to obtain a Missouri driver license.

The investigation into Ojedeji began when the U.S. 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 Dec. 19, 2023, and Jan. 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. At sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will argue that the total intended loss is more than $1 million, based on the $94,150 contained in the 17 packages seized by law enforcement. Ojedeji continues to deny 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.

“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 U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI and the Town and Country Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.


https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/man-admits-fraudulently-obtaining-student-visa-other-documents

Student visa, PhD program with tuition waiver of almost 50k. He still preferred to do fraud.
He just made getting the same opportunity more difficult for new intakes from Nigeria in the university.
Most Nigerians are truly a reflection of thier leaders.

carzeem1:
Student visa, PhD program with tuition waiver of almost 50k. He still preferred to do fraud.
He just made getting the same opportunity more difficult for new intakes from Nigeria in the university.
Most Nigerians are truly a reflection of thier leaders.

Was thinking same!! He got everything!! All he needed to do was to lay low and work hard!! Shame on him.

magicminister:
Was thinking same!! He got everything!! All he needed to do was to lay low and work hard!! Shame on him.

Our societal norms of celebrating wealth without process has destroyed our values n morals so much that even the world can see our decadence.

How u wan make im go skool wey na Oluwole certificate and transcripts him take apply in the 1st place?
Na so one guy for my area wey no get even WAEC sef, use fake certificates apply for Sweden PHD program with scholarship, reach there come dey zuzu.
Person wey no get WAEC wan interact how for PHD program?
How e go start? How e wan take do am?
After university discover say something dey wrong, im run from Sweden enter UK seek asylum.
Creation my guy.

carzeem1:
Student visa, PhD program with tuition waiver of almost 50k. He still preferred to do fraud.
He just made getting the same opportunity more difficult for new intakes from Nigeria in the university.
Most Nigerians are truly a reflection of thier leaders.

franvincoop:
How u wan make im go skool wey na Oluwole certificate and transcripts him take apply in the 1st place?
Na so one guy for my area wey no get even WAEC sef, use fake certificates apply for Sweden PHD program with scholarship, reach there come dey zuzu.
Person wey no get WAEC wan interact how for PHD program?
How e go start? How e wan take do am?
After university discover say something dey wrong, im run from Sweden enter UK seek asylum.
Creation my guy.

The thing about schooling in obodo oyibo is that if all you do is show up for class and do your homework, you’ll make at least a C. He could’ve changed his destiny and his family but he chose to be a fool!

carzeem1:
Student visa, PhD program with tuition waiver of almost 50k. He still preferred to do fraud.
He just made getting the same opportunity more difficult for new intakes from Nigeria in the university.
Most Nigerians are truly a reflection of thier leaders.

And he foolishly chose PhD in Chemistry... He think say na Naija kind of Chemistry!

Agreed.
But the leap of faith was too much bro.
Person wey no get WAEC, no try bachelors or Masters, but jump directly to PHD program via Oluwole certification cuz na scholarship.
How e wan take go class do homework?
Even common mathematics im brain no go fit.
After more than 20 years wey im don abandon education.
Dat travel agent do am very bad something I no lie.

magicminister:
The thing about schooling in obodo oyibo is that if all you do is show up for class and do your homework, you’ll make at least a C. He could’ve changed his destiny and his family but he chose to be a fool!