JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man has been accused of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement related to naturalization in a scheme involving the Department of Veterans Affairs and UF Health, according to the Department of Justice.
Oladapo Olalekan Fadugba, 40, now faces a maximum penalty of 27 years in federal prison.
Recommended Videos
According to the indictment, beginning on October 30, 2020, and ending no later than July 11, 2023, Fadugba had more than $690,000 of Department of Veterans Affairs funds, intended for reimbursement to UF Health, transferred to his personal bank accounts.
Fadugba then wrote himself, or businesses associated with him, checks that were then transferred to other bank accounts owned by him, investigators said. It is alleged that to procure the transfers, Fadugba used the identification of another individual.
The indictment also notifies Fadugba that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $400,000, which represents the approximate proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
The indictment further alleges that Fadugba, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria, made a false statement under oath during his naturalization proceeding. Fadugba allegedly falsely stated he had not committed any crime or offense for which he had not been arrested.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that the defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
