Nigerian musician sentenced for attempting to steal $3.5 million in tax refunds

A Nigerian musician based in St. Louis pleaded guilty for attempting to steal tax refunds in 2015 and was sentenced to more three years in federal prison on Thursday, April 21.

According to investigators, 29-year-old Olufunso Adesina, a guitarist tried to steal more than $3 million in fake tax refunds but didn't succeed in that. 

Adesina collected almost $800,000 from more than 50 refunds by filing false tax returns under other people’s names.

November last year, the U.S. Attorney's office in St. Louis announced charges against Adesina. Prosecutors say he has left the area, and urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation division. 

Prosecutors say Adeshina participated in a stolen identity tax fraud scheme. IRS investigators allegedly found tax refunds due to several people deposited in numerous accounts in the name of Adeshina or businesses he controlled. The criminal complaint claims that nearly $200,000 has flowed into more than 20 accounts controlled by Adeshina since the start of the year.

Three local banks assisted the IRS in investigating in the bust after noticing suspicious behaviour. Adeshina could face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.