By Gwurld4026 
UK Extradition: Nigerian National Arraigned in U.S. Court
On March 7, 2025, Onomen Uduebor, a 38-year-old Nigerian citizen, was arraigned in the U.S. District Court in Seattle following his extradition from the United Kingdom. He faces charges related to a scheme involving stolen tax information used for fraudulent purposes.
Alleged Scheme Details:
- Timeframe: February 2016 to April 2017.
- Method: Conspirators allegedly sent deceptive emails impersonating company executives to Human Resources departments, requesting W-2 tax forms containing employees’ personal information.
- Execution: The emails were crafted so that replies would be directed to accounts controlled by the conspirators.
- Outcome: Using the stolen W-2 data, over 300 fraudulent tax returns were filed, claiming more than $1 million in refunds. Companies across the United States, including one based in Tukwila, Washington, were targeted.
Charges and Potential Penalties:
- Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud: Punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
- Wire Fraud: Punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
- Aggravated Identity Theft: Carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years, to run consecutively with any other sentence imposed.
Legal Proceedings:
- Plea: Uduebor pleaded not guilty during his arraignment.
- Trial Date: Scheduled for May 12, 2025, before U.S. District Judge James L. Robart.
Investigation and Extradition:
- Investigating Agency: Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI).
- Arrest: Uduebor was apprehended in the United Kingdom in September 2023.
- Extradition: Facilitated by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, leading to his recent appearance in the U.S. court system.
This case underscores the collaborative efforts between international law enforcement agencies to address and combat cyber-related financial crimes.