A 27-year-old Nigerian, Imoleayo Aina, has pleaded guilty in the United States to multiple charges in connection with a sextortion scheme that led to the death of a teenage boy in Pennsylvania.
According to a statement released by U.S. Attorney David Metcalf and published on the Department of Justice website, Aina could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. He was extradited from Nigeria after being arrested by the FBI on July 31, 2014, alongside co-defendant Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun. A third accomplice, Afeez Olatunji Adewale, remains in Nigeria and has not yet been extradited.
Aina admitted to charges including cyberstalking, interstate threats, extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and multiple counts of wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2025.
Abiodun, who pleaded guilty in December 2024 to money laundering and wire fraud, is expected to be sentenced on June 10 and faces up to 100 years in prison. Adewale faces similar charges but remains at large in Nigeria.
The U.S. Department of Justice credited the Nigerian government with assisting in the extradition process.
This case is part of a broader FBI investigation known as **Operation Artemis**, launched in response to a surge in sextortion cases targeting teenage boys online. Since 2021, over 20 teen suicides in the U.S. have been linked to such crimes. In April, PUNCH reported that 22 Nigerians were arrested as part of the international operation, coordinated with agencies in Canada, Australia, the UK, and Nigeria.
