SHOCKING:
Nigerian Jazz Guitarist, 29, Steals $200,000…In Tax Refunds in IRS Scam
*Olufunsho Adeshina’s Music Career in America comes to a Halt
*Used Stolen Social Security Numbers to file 20 to 30 Phony Tax Returns, Made close to $200,000 in Refunds deposited in 20 bank accounts
*Investigation traced to his home at: 5330 Queens in North St. Louis
* “It appears once the accounts were frozen, he may have rented a U-Haul and moved out”-United States Attorney, Richard Callahan
BY ADEKEMI OLAPADE/CRIME REPORTER, NEW YORK
HIS name is Olufunsho Adeshina, a 29 year old Nigerian immigrant professional jazz guitarist. He’s a musician who lives a luxurious lifestyle, drives sleek cars in St. Louis, Nashville since three years ago. No one ever had any idea this same gifted Nigerian musician had been secretly duping and exploiting IRS by using stolen Social Security Numbers of over 20 unsuspecting members of the public to file for for fake Tax Returns where he swindled close to the sum of $200,000 paid into his direct deposit bank accounts
According to Court document, Adeshina, a St. Louis musician is accused of stealing close to $200,000 in tax refunds in an IRS scam. He speaks fluent American English and Yoruba language (one of the major languages in Nigeria). This smooth-talking Nigerian performs in Night clubs in Nashville.
Investigation confirms that he’s a jazz guitarist with a growing following on Facebook and YouTube. His public Facebook page boasts of a new album coming and performances in St. Louis, Nashville, and Colorado. It has more than 1700 likes with fans posting regularly. But as at today, the Nigerian national’s music career has come to a screeching halt, authorities say.
United States Government Position
United States Attorney, Richard Callahan said: “It appears over the last weekend, once the accounts were frozen, he may have rented a U-Haul and moved out,” said U.S. Attorney, Richard Callahan.
Court documents say Adeshina used stolen social security numbers to file 20 to 30 phony tax returns and have close to $200,000 in refunds deposited into nearly 20 bank accounts he had set up at US Bank, Commerce Bank, and 5th/3rd Bank. Every account listed his home address as 5330 Queens in North St. Louis.
Eye witness states Adeshina have allegedly fled his home to avert arrest by the police and security agency since he’s being placed on wanted list.
Callahan warned tax refund theft was becoming a common crime; taxpayers who’d yet to file, might wish they already had.
His words: “If you haven’t filed your text return yet, you’re taking a chance that someone has already used your social security number. If that’s the case, if you have a refund coming, it’s going to be a lot longer before you actually get your refund.”
Callahan credited workers at all three banks who — each independently of the others — blew this whistle on the scam. It appeared that Adeshina failed to get away with any of the money thus far, Callahan said.
But court documents indicated Adeshina might have run this scam at least as far back as 2013. If you’ve seen Adeshina or know where he is, call police.