James Junior Aliyu, a 30-year-old Nigerian national, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering for his role in a multimillion-dollar business email compromise (BEC) scheme.

Aliyu, who lived in South Africa at the time of his crimes, was arrested, extradited to the United States, and is the last of three defendants to plead guilty in the case. Eight other individuals had previously entered guilty pleas in related cases in the District of Maryland.

The announcement was made on August 26, 2025, by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, alongside Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Baltimore officials.

A federal grand jury indicted Aliyu, along with fellow Nigerians Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, 30, and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, 31, in June 2019. The indictment was unsealed in July 2022 following their arrests abroad. All three were later extradited to the U.S. to face charges.

According to his plea agreement, between February and July 2017, Aliyu and his co-conspirators hacked into email accounts belonging to individuals and businesses. Using spoofed email addresses, they sent fraudulent wiring instructions that tricked victims into sending funds to “drop accounts” controlled by the group.

The conspirators then laundered the stolen funds through transfers, cash withdrawals, cashier’s checks, and payments designed to disguise the money’s true source and ownership.

Court records show Aliyu was directly linked to at least $4.16 million in intended losses, with actual victim losses of at least $1.57 million. He personally controlled about $1.19 million of those stolen funds.

As part of his plea, Aliyu must forfeit $1.19 million and pay restitution of at least $2.38 million.

He faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing, which U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman has scheduled for November 24, 2025.

U.S. officials credited the South African Department of Justice, National Prosecuting Authority, Police Service, as well as the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs and Canadian authorities, for their roles in the investigation and extraditions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy is prosecuting the case.