Tag: Bobo Chicago

  • U.S. Judge reverses bail decision for alleged fraudster Bobo Chicago over concerns he will flee to Nigeria

    U.S. Judge reverses bail decision for alleged fraudster Bobo Chicago over concerns he will flee to Nigeria

    U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III has overturned the previous ruling granting bail to Bolanle Bombata, also known as Bobo Chicago, after FBI prosecutors presented compelling evidence that he posed a significant flight risk. This decision follows the U.S. government’s swift appeal of the initial bail grant.

     

    On 26 November, Magistrate Judge Beth Jantz had allowed Bombata to be released on bail. However, the U.S. government moved quickly to obtain a stay of execution to prevent the order, citing concerns about Bombata’s lack of integrity and potential to flee before his trial.

     

    FBI prosecutors emphasised Bobo Chicago’s history of dishonesty and criminal behaviour as evidence that he could not be trusted to attend future hearings. They noted his 2020 arrest for illegal gun possession, during which he was found with $17,000 in cash, multiple debit and credit cards, and cheque books issued in other people’s names. This case remains unresolved in Illinois.

     

    Bobo Chicago’s lies about travel history

    Bombata’s claims about never having travelled outside the United States were also disputed. During a pre-trial interview about his involvement in a $2.8 million fraud scheme, he stated that he had never left the country. However, a government informant revealed that Bob Chicago had travelled to several European and Eastern European countries, including the UK, Ukraine, and Germany, for fraudulent activities.

    Read also: FBI traces Bobo Chicago’s $2.8m scam to African Shrine; Wale Ogundana’s nightclub licence revoked

    The prosecution pointed out that Bombata had failed to disclose important travel details during the pre-trial interview, including trips to Nigeria (where his parents reside), Germany, and Colombia in recent years. Prosecutors argued that his dishonesty undermined any confidence in his willingness to comply with bail conditions.

     

    Defence lawyer argues lies were ‘unintentional”

    The public defender representing Bobo Chicago claimed that the omissions about his travels were “unintentional.” However, the prosecution maintained that the defendant’s deceitfulness, even when given the opportunity to correct his statements, raised serious doubts about his trustworthiness.

     

    Despite Bombata surrendering his passport, the FBI highlighted his criminal history, which they argued demonstrated his ability to obtain false identification and potentially flee the country to avoid prosecution.

    Read also: FBI most-wanted Nigerian cybercriminal Abiola Kayode extradited to U.S. from Ghana over multi-million dolllar email scam

    After reviewing the evidence, Judge Heil concluded that the prosecution’s case was too strong to ignore. He ruled that Bobo Chicago would remain in custody throughout his trial.

     

    “Accordingly, defendant will be detained pending trial,” stated Judge Heil.

    “It is therefore ordered that the Government’s Appeal of Magistrate Judge’s Order [Dkt. No. 13] is granted and the Order Setting Conditions of Release is reversed.”

     

  • FBI traces Bobo Chicago’s $2.8m scam to African Shrine; Wale Ogundana’s nightclub licence revoked

    FBI traces Bobo Chicago’s $2.8m scam to African Shrine; Wale Ogundana’s nightclub licence revoked

    Agents of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation have exposed a web of fraud connecting suspected Nigerian scammer Oluyomi Omobolanle Bombata, alias Bobo Chicago, to African Shrine, a nightclub in Las Vegas.

    The discovery consequently led the Nevada state government to revoke the club’s licence and ban its owner Wale Ogundana from engaging in nightlife and entertainment-related businesses

    Read also: Hackers stole $17 million from Bank of Uganda, incident under investigation

    FBI traces Bobo Chicago’s $2.8 million in stolen funds

    The FBI arrested Bobo Chicago, 25, in Illinois on November 20. Investigators, using advanced financial tracking tools, uncovered a $394,000 wire transfer from the alleged fraudster to the African Shrine. This discovery prompted Nevada authorities to revoke Mr Ogundana’s nightclub licence and ban him from operating in any entertainment-related businesses.

    The fraud, which spanned from June to October 2023, involved hacking into email accounts of individuals and corporations to siphon funds into fraudulent accounts. So far, $2.8 million has been traced to these schemes, with the African Shrine receiving a portion of the stolen money.

    Nightclub licence revoked

    In response to the findings, Nevada officials revoked Mr Ogundana’s licence to operate the African Shrine. The move delivers a major financial blow to the nightclub owner in a city where nightlife is a key economic driver. Mr Ogundana has yet to issue a public statement on his potential involvement in the fraud or his knowledge of the illicit funds.

    Bobo Chicago faces fraud charges

    After his arrest in Illinois, Bobo Chicago was transferred to Oklahoma, where the alleged crimes were committed. He now faces a five-count charge of fraud and claims he cannot afford private legal representation, relying instead on a state-appointed public defender.

    The FBI’s sophisticated financial forensics and digital tracking tools played a crucial role in uncovering the fraud network. By following online transfers and analysing transaction patterns, agents were able to link the stolen funds to Bobo Chicago’s accomplices and the African Shrine. Investigators are continuing to probe Mr Ogundana’s activities in Las Vegas to determine his level of involvement.

    Read also: EFCC freezes #548.6 million linked to crypto platforms ByBit and KuCoin

    A broader pattern of cybercrime

    This case is the latest in a series of fraud schemes linked to Nigerian nationals in the United States. High-profile scammers such as Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, and his associate Mr Woodberry are currently serving prison terms for similar crimes.

    The FBI remains committed to dismantling fraud networks and leveraging advanced technology to track stolen funds and bring perpetrators to justice. This case underscores the power of digital evidence in exposing hidden connections and holding those involved accountable.

  • FBI arrests suspected Nigerian fraudster “Bobo Chicago” for $2.8 million business email scam

    FBI arrests suspected Nigerian fraudster “Bobo Chicago” for $2.8 million business email scam

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Oluyomi Omobolanle Bombata, popularly known as “Bobo Chicago” and “Bola Flexx,” for allegedly orchestrating a business email compromise scheme that defrauded companies and individuals of $2.8 million in the U.S.

    The 25-year-old was taken into custody on November 20 in Chicago, Illinois, based on an arrest warrant issued in Oklahoma. His arrest follows multiple criminal complaints and a detailed investigation that flagged his activities as fraudulent and highly organised.

    Read also: Hackers stole $17 million from Bank of Uganda, incident under investigation

    Bobo Chicago reportedly targeted Nigerians living in the Houston metropolitan area before relocating to Chicago to evade detection. After his arrest, he was transferred to Oklahoma, where the alleged crimes were committed. Federal prosecutors have charged him with five criminal offences: wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions. These offences are believed to have been committed between June 2023 and October 2023.

    Bobo Chicago allegedly hacked individual and companies accounts

    According to investigators, Bobo Chicago and his co-conspirator hacked into the accounts of numerous companies and individuals within the Eastern District of Oklahoma to execute the fraud. Using a combination of phishing emails and other hacking techniques, he allegedly manipulated his victims into transferring funds to accounts he controlled. Of the stolen $2.8 million, over $300,000 was reportedly spent at a well-known liquor store, raising suspicions about the store owner’s potential involvement in the scheme.

    Judge Beth Jantz of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois approved the transfer of Bobo Chicago to Oklahoma, where he will face prosecution. During his initial court appearance, he claimed to have no financial resources to hire a defence attorney and was subsequently assigned a public defender. This has fuelled speculation that he might be more interested in serving the sentence rather than contest the charges.

    Law enforcement agents have also detained Bobo Chicago’s alleged co-conspirator, who remains in custody. Authorities continue to investigate the full scope of the scheme and are working to recover the stolen funds.

    The arrest of Bobo Chicago adds to a growing list of Nigerians implicated in high-profile fraud cases in the United States. Other notorious figures include Hushpuppi and Mr Woodberry, who are serving lengthy prison sentences at Fort Dix correctional facility in New Jersey for similar crimes involving millions of dollars. These cases underscore the increasing sophistication of online fraud and the FBI’s ongoing efforts to crack down on cybercriminals operating within U.S. jurisdiction.

    The FBI has reiterated their commitment to holding perpetrators accountable, emphasising that business email compromise schemes pose significant threats to companies and individuals alike.