Son of a late traditional ruler in Osun State, Prince Sobanke Idris Sunday Adereti, has been jailed by a United States court for fraud.
Idris was sentenced to federal prison for federal fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas, United States.
His father, Oba Olayiwola Adereti, died 13 August 2018, as the traditional ruler of Iwaraland in Ile-Ife.
The 24-year old prince pleaded guilty on October 25, 2021, to passport fraud and attempted bank fraud and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison by the U.S. District judge, Jeremy D. Kernodle.
The court documents showed that in March 2021, Idris presented a false passport and a falsely procured certified check when trying to open a bank account in Flower Mound, Texas.
The documents further showed that the check was purchased by a fraud victim who was induced into sending money to Adereti, falsely known as “Robinson Elijah.”
He was likely acting as a money mule to cash the victim’s checks and when Idris was arrested, he had additional passports and bank statements in other names in his possession.
Investigators determined that Idris was also connected to scams related to business email compromise fraud and other government program fraud.
Additionally, evidence showed that Idris was the son of a Nigerian traditional ruler and entered the United States on a visitor’s visa in 2018, which has since expired.
“Scams to steal money are around every corner,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “Thanks to the keen eye of bank officials, Idris was apprehended. Unfortunately, many of these crimes target our vulnerable elder population. It is up to all of us to share this awareness and look out for our greatest generation.”
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Idris with federal violations on April 7, 2021.
