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Missouri, USA – Mercy Ojedeji, a 24-year-old Nigerian man, pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and using fraudulent immigration documents. Ojedeji admitted using falsified credentials to enter a University of Missouri chemistry PhD program and get a student visa in Fall 2023. This Nigerian PhD Student Fraud involved fake documents.
Fake Documents Led to University Admission and Funds
Ojedeji submitted counterfeit academic transcripts, recommendation letters, a fake resume, and a false English language report. These documents secured his PhD admission and university financial support. This included a stipend and tuition waiver worth over $49,000. This specific Nigerian PhD Student Fraud was discovered during a larger investigation.
Connection to Romance Fraud Investigation
Authorities found Ojedeji’s university fraud while investigating a separate romance scam. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service tracked packages with cash and gift cards sent by romance scam victims to an address linked to Ojedeji. Evidence of the university fraud emerged during a search related to the romance scam. Ojedeji pleaded guilty to the wire and immigration fraud charges related to his university admission but denied involvement in the romance scam. He faces prison time and potential fines, with sentencing scheduled for July 10.
