Identity theft, fake cards and casino laundering: Nigerian couple charged in New York fraud plot

Nigerian-born Opeyemi Olujobi, 28, and his wife Jennie Davidson, 29, have been arrested in Poughkeepsie, New York, and face up to 50 years in prison after allegedly using stolen identities to fraudulently access over 200 credit card accounts and make approximately $575,000 in unauthorised purchases.

A US-based Nigerian man and his American wife are facing decades in federal prison following their arrest in New York over an elaborate credit card fraud scheme. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton alleged the couple used stolen personal information to hijack hundreds of credit card accounts between May 2023 and October 2024.

According to Clayton, “From at least May 2023 through October 2024, Olujobi, Davidson, and/or their co-conspirators contacted a publicly traded consumer financial services company and used other people’s names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers, and addresses to falsely identify themselves as the true accountholders of over 200 store credit card accounts.”

The suspects allegedly redirected victims’ cards to addresses they controlled, then used them across multiple retail outlets. “After they obtained their victims’ credit cards, Olujobi, Davidson, and/or their co-conspirators used those cards at various retail locations to make around $575,000 in unauthorised purchases of gift cards and other merchandise,” Clayton stated, adding that “video surveillance associated with many of these transactions shows Olujobi and Davidson using the stolen cards.”

Davidson faces an additional money laundering charge after allegedly funnelling proceeds through an online betting account into her personal bank account. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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