A federal jury convicted a Virginia man and Maryland woman yesterday on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering for their parts in defrauding a non-profit corporation dedicated to global public health.
In a classic fraud scheme, Abiodun A. Ogunwale, 46, of Haymarket, served as Director of Business Development for the non-profit. Ogunwale exercised substantial control over the hiring and paying of consultants for the non-profit’s Business Development department as well as the payment of department expenses. In this position, he hired Abimbola Ajayi, 41, of Rockville, Maryland, as a business development consultant for the non-profit. Ogunwale created invoices and work descriptions for Ajayi to use to bill the non-profit and drafted emails for Ajayi to send to the non-profit to make it appear that Ajayi performed work on specific proposals she had not performed.
Ogunwale and Ajayi face up to 20 years in prison for each count when sentenced on Aug. 7. Read more of the details here.