Texarkana, Texas — Two Nigerian nationals and one Texas resident have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a far-reaching stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme that laundered millions through U.S. and international financial systems.
Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. confirmed the sentencing of Imafedia Adevokhai, 47, of Alpharetta, Georgia; Osazuwa Peter Okunoghae, 46, of Houston, Texas; and Michael Martin, 52, of Texarkana, Texas, following guilty pleas related to the multi-million dollar conspiracy.
Adevokhai, a Nigerian national, was sentenced on April 2, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III to 46 months in prison for money laundering. He was also ordered to pay $90,380.60 in restitution and forfeit $3,500.
Okunoghae, also a Nigerian national, received the longest sentence — 78 months — after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in 2019. He was sentenced on January 13, 2022, and ordered to pay $451,117.63 in restitution and forfeiture.
Martin, the only American among them, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 18 months in prison on November 21, 2023. He must repay $90,380.60 in restitution and forfeit an additional $121,623.41.
According to court documents, the trio participated in a Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF) scheme that filed fraudulent tax returns using the personal information of dozens of unsuspecting victims. The operation aimed to steal nearly $5 million in refunds, resulting in a confirmed loss of over $390,000 to the U.S. Treasury and IRS.
“This case underscores our district’s commitment to holding accountable those who exploit stolen identities and defraud the U.S. government,” said Acting U.S. Attorney McGlothin.
The IRS Criminal Investigation division unraveled the operation, tracing laundered proceeds through a maze of domestic and foreign accounts.
Special Agent Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of IRS-CI Dallas Field Office called the convictions a strong deterrent. “Their sentences should serve as a warning to anyone considering tax fraud or identity theft.”
Investigations revealed Adevokhai orchestrated the filing of the bogus returns, while Okunoghae and Martin managed the movement of illicit funds across accounts to obscure their origins.
The case stems from a broader 2019 indictment involving conspirators across multiple U.S. states and Nigeria — highlighting the global reach of the criminal network.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and Sean Taylor.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to aggressively pursue SIRF crimes, which threaten taxpayer trust and drain billions from the public treasury.
Comments