A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Adetunji Abudu, has been arrested at Logan Airport in Boston after evading law enforcement for seven years. His apprehension was confirmed by the United States Department of Justice in a statement released on October 26, 2026.

Abudu was taken into custody last Monday night as he attempted to return to the U.S. from Istanbul, Turkey. He appeared in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island on October 21, where he was ordered to be detained pending trial. Abudu is among six individuals indicted in connection with a large-scale fraud scheme that reportedly targeted elderly residents in the United States.

The indictment alleges that Abudu and his co-defendants were involved in laundering millions of dollars obtained from various fraudulent activities. These schemes included online romance scams, fraudulent sweepstakes, fake rental listings, and bogus shipping transactions. The funds collected from victims were funneled through bank accounts and businesses located in Rhode Island, Idaho, and other states, with a significant portion of the proceeds ultimately sent back to Nigeria.

The conspiracy also involved the purchase of vehicles using the illicit proceeds, which were then shipped overseas. Abudu fled the United States to Nigeria in 2019 after the FBI executed a search warrant at his residence in North Providence, Rhode Island.

Five of Abudu's co-defendants have already pleaded guilty to charges related to money laundering conspiracy. Their sentences ranged from time served to 42 months in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams, with the investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and local police departments in Tallmadge, Ohio, and Moscow, Idaho.

Abudu's arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat international fraud and protect vulnerable populations from such schemes. The authorities continue to pursue justice for the victims affected by these fraudulent activities.