A 24-year-old Nigerian national, Mercy Ojedeji, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to wire fraud and using falsified immigration documents to gain admission into a PhD program at the University of Missouri.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ojedeji used fake academic transcripts, a fabricated resume, and forged English proficiency scores to secure a student visa and enroll in a chemistry PhD program in Fall 2023. The deception granted him access to a Social Security number, a state driver’s license, housing, a bank account, and university benefits worth over $49,000.
Despite never attending classes or participating in research, Ojedeji remained in the U.S. and later used the expired visa to unlawfully obtain a Missouri driver’s license in early 2024.
Investigations linked Ojedeji’s partner’s address to a broader Nigerian romance scam. Authorities tracked 193 packages, including 17 containing $94,150 in cash and gift cards, sent from romance fraud victims—mostly traced to Nigerian IP addresses.
Ojedeji denied involvement in the romance scam but admitted to the academic and visa fraud. He faces up to 30 years in prison and $500,000 in fines, with sentencing scheduled for July 10, 2025.
