Akinade Adedeji Raheem, a Nigerian man, was arraigned in the United States after being extradited from Benin over a suspected $100 million stolen-identity tax refund scheme. Raheem, 43, is accused of filing more than 300 fraudulent tax returns between 2018 and 2023, claiming over $100 million in IRS refunds using the stolen identities of accountants and other taxpayers. Prosecutors say Raheem and co-conspirators obtained hundreds of stolen identities and used the information to submit false returns. The group allegedly created online IRS accounts to request private taxpayer information, then directed the IRS to split refunds among prepaid debit cards shipped to addresses controlled by the conspirators. After the refunds were loaded onto the cards, Raheem and Abayomi Quadri Eletu allegedly laundered proceeds through purchases including used cars shipped to Nigeria and other locations, and through money orders bought in amounts low enough to avoid reporting thresholds. Prosecutors also say the laundering included designer clothing and other items. Law enforcement moved to arrest Raheem in April 2026 at his Atlanta residence, but he was not there when agents spoke to a man who identified himself as Raheem through a video doorbell. Less than a week later, agents learned Raheem booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin. On April 15, 2026, he flew into Benin and was arrested by local authorities pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice. Benin authorities extradited Raheem to the United States last week. Raheem was arraigned yesterday on a federal indictment in the Northern District of Georgia and detained in US Marshals Service custody pending further proceedings. A February 24, 2026 grand jury indicted him on conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, 14 counts of access device fraud, and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties of 20 years for mail and wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering, and 10 years for access device fraud, plus a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Eletu was indicted in the Western District of Texas and was arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings are pending. The case is being investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigations and TIGTA, with international assistance from multiple agencies including INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Benin and Benin’s police and foreign affairs ministries.