By Gwurld4026 
Multi-Million Dollar Mortgage Fraud: Nigerian Attorney Extradited
Okechukwu Josiah Odunna, a 60-year-old Nigerian national and licensed attorney, has been extradited to the United States to face charges related to a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme. Odunna is accused of orchestrating a fraudulent operation that led to approximately $8 million in losses for U.S. financial institutions.
Between December 2005 and May 2008, Odunna and his co-conspirators allegedly submitted false loan applications and documents to U.S. financial institutions, resulting in lenders providing more funds than warranted.
The fraudulent activities involved inflated sale prices, false borrower identities, and deceptive fund disbursement details. Odunna, who was also a director at Direct Title and Escrow Services, Inc., is said to have facilitated approximately 20 fraudulent property closings, using deceptive settlement statements to conceal the fraud.
Odunna was arrested in Nigeria on September 24, 2024, following a U.S. extradition request, and was extradited to the Southern District of Florida on March 6, 2025, after waiving extradition.
He faces charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, each carrying potential penalties of up to 30 years in prison. Odunna remains incarcerated and is scheduled for pretrial detention and arraignment hearings on March 11, 2025.
