Man Jailed for 41 Months Over Fraudulent U.S. Student Visa and Wire Fraud Scheme
A Nigerian national, Mercy Ojedeji, has been sentenced to 41 months in a U.S. federal prison for fraudulently obtaining a student visa, university admission, and multiple government and financial documents, as well as participating in a wire fraud scheme connected to online scams. The sentence was handed down on Monday by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey in St. Louis, Missouri.
According to court records, Ojedeji illegally secured admission into the University of Missouri’s chemistry PhD program for the Fall 2023 academic session using counterfeit academic transcripts, falsified recommendation letters, a fraudulent résumé, and a fabricated English language proficiency report. These documents were used to obtain a U.S. student visa, which later enabled him to access several benefits reserved for legitimate international students.
Federal prosecutors said that after arriving in the United States, Ojedeji used the fraudulently obtained visa and supporting documents to acquire a Social Security card, open a bank account, obtain a Missouri driver’s license, and rent an apartment. He also received a graduate assistantship, including a tuition waiver and stipend valued at more than $49,000, despite never actively participating in academic activities.
University officials eventually became suspicious after Ojedeji failed to attend classes, did not fulfill his teaching or research assistantship duties, and never joined any research group. In January 2024, the University of Missouri terminated him from the graduate program, which automatically invalidated his student visa. Despite this, prosecutors said Ojedeji continued using the expired and fraudulently obtained documents, including securing a Missouri driver’s license in February 2024.
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Investigators further revealed that Ojedeji was involved in money mule activities linked to Shirley Waller, his partner at the time. Waller is already serving a 93-month prison sentence for aiding online scammers and committing pandemic-related and mortgage fraud. Authorities alleged that both individuals used a fraudulently opened bank account to funnel proceeds from various scams to Nigeria.
Law enforcement officials intercepted 17 suspicious packages containing $94,150 in cash, part of a total of 193 packages allegedly sent through the U.S. mail system. Based on these findings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office estimated that the intended loss from the scheme exceeded $1 million.
Victim impact statements submitted to the court painted a grim picture of the consequences of the fraud. One victim told the court she lost $47,000 after being deceived by an online scammer posing as a widowed orthopedic surgeon working at a refugee hospital in Jordan. Another victim reported having their water service disconnected for an entire month after sending money to scammers, leaving them unable to pay basic utility bills.
Ojedeji pleaded guilty in April to one count of unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents and one count of wire fraud. His sentence reflects both the immigration-related offenses and his role in facilitating the broader financial fraud scheme.
Speaking on the case, Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service emphasized the agency’s role in protecting the integrity of the U.S. mail system. She noted that Postal Inspectors work closely with federal and local law enforcement partners to investigate fraud schemes that exploit victims, particularly the most vulnerable members of society.
The investigation was carried out by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Town and Country Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry.
Following the completion of his prison sentence, Ojedeji is expected to face immigration consequences, including possible deportation. The case has also reignited conversations about visa fraud, international student screening processes, and the broader impact of such crimes on legitimate applicants seeking educational opportunities abroad.