Mexico‑Based Nigerian fraudster Gets 8 Years for $1.3M U.S. Tax Fraud

Mexico‑Based Nigerian fraudster Gets 8 Years for $1.3M U.S. Tax Fraud

A U.S. federal court has sentenced Matthew A. Akande, a Nigerian national based in Mexico, to eight years (96 months) in prison for orchestrating a sophisticated fraud that defrauded the U.S. government of $1.3 million through fraudulent tax refund claims, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) confirmed.

Akande, 37, was convicted for his central role in a conspiracy that used stolen taxpayer information to file more than 1,000 fraudulent tax returns, seeking over $8.1 million in unlawful refunds. Of those, the group successfully obtained $1,393,230 in illicit refunds before law enforcement dismantled the scheme.

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani handed down the prison sentence at a federal courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts, where Akande was also ordered to pay full restitution of $1,393,230 to the U.S. government.

According to the DoJ, Akande and his co‑conspirators carried out the fraud over approximately five years by stealing taxpayers’ personally identifiable information (PII) through cyber intrusions and phishing attacks on tax preparation firms in Massachusetts.

READ ALSO:

• Ademola Lookman Scores Historic Goal as Atletico Madrid Draw 3–3 With Club Brugge
• Canada Opens New Express Entry Draw for Nigerian Workers, Others
• South Korea Former President Park Geun-hye Jailed for Life Over Martial Law Attempt

The fraud used a type of malicious software known as Warzone Remote Access Trojan (RAT), which was embedded in seemingly legitimate emails sent to tax firms. The emails purported to be from prospective clients, tricking staff into downloading the malware, which then gave the conspirators remote access to systems and sensitive client data.

Once the attackers gained access, they used the stolen PII — including Social Security numbers, prior tax records, and other sensitive information — to file fraudulent federal tax returns, claiming large refunds. After the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the refunds, Akande’s network withdrew the stolen funds in cash across the United States. Portions of the money were then transferred overseas, including into accounts in Mexico, under Akande’s direction.

Akande was arrested in October 2024 at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom. After extradition proceedings, he was brought to the United States on March 5, 2025, to face federal charges.

In July 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Akande on multiple counts, including:

• Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, identity theft, and theft of government money
• Wire fraud
• Unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud
• Theft of government funds
• Aggravated identity theft

These charges reflect the wide reach of the scheme, which combined cybercrime tactics with financial fraud to exploit federal tax systems.

Prosecutors highlighted that the case underscores growing concerns about transnational cybercrime, particularly schemes targeting government benefits and tax systems. Nigerian nationals — both inside Africa and abroad — have previously been linked by U.S. authorities to various phishing, business email compromise, and identity theft operations, though many Nigerians abroad also contribute legitimately to global tech and financial sectors.

The Akande case involved cooperation between U.S. investigators, the U.K. authorities, and Mexican law enforcement, illustrating the international nature of both cybercrime and law enforcement response.

Judge Talwani’s ruling reflects the seriousness with which U.S. courts are treating digital financial fraud, particularly when it targets public funds, undermines trust in tax systems, and exploits individuals’ personal data.

Mexico‑Based Nigerian fraudster Gets 8 Years for $1.3M U.S. Tax Fraud