Scammers Dupe Edison Officials Of More Than $287K In Email Scam: Feds

EDISON, NJ – Five people from Texas were charged after they scammed Edison officials into sending them $287,236 in what is described as an email scam, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said last week.

The five people were indicted last week on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

The scammers were identified as Bolaji Okunnu, 29, and Philip Ogbeide Jr., 33, both of Houston; Ayodegi Okunnu, 24, Austin; and Victor Rubio Jr., 26, and Bougar Robert Linares Soto, 41, both of Los Angeles, California.

According to authorities posed as legitimate businesses and fraudulently diverted money from Edison's bank accounts into accounts they controlled. According to the charges, they gained access to business email accounts and spoofed email addresses to deceive officials ictims into believing they were making legitimate payments.

According to the charges, the township was deceived into wiring $287,236 to a fraudulent bank account Rubio had opened instead of actually paying the vendor.

An Edison employee wired $287,236.14 to a Wells Fargo account in Texas, believing they were the provider of electrical and mechanical sales and services, reported NJ.com.

“The charges further allege conspirators laundered the funds in a manner designed to conceal the source, ownership and control of the funds by quickly transferring the money from Rubio’s account to other bank accounts they controlled,” Hamdani said. “

They then withdrew the fraud proceeds incrementally in cash.

If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Edison Police Department, Hamdani said.

"Edison Township was the victim of a wire fraud scheme in November 2021 under the former
administration," the Township told Patch in a statement.

"The improperly diverted funds were recouped. Edison Township is grateful to
the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who worked tirelessly to identify and
apprehend the individuals believed to be involved in this incident."

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