United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CREDIT CARD FRAUD

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced today that NURUDEEN OLAYIWOLA, age 55, of 4217 Highland Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty yesterday, March 2, in New Haven federal court to Count One of an Indictment charging credit card fraud.

OLAYIWOLA admitted that from approximately October 2002 through June 2003, he and others contacted various financial institutions and, after supplying confidential personal information, requested that mailing addresses for various individuals' accounts be changed and that new or replacement credit cards be issued for the accounts and the cards forwarded to the new addresses. The addresses were at various commercial mail receiving agencies around the State of Connecticut, including a Mail Box Etc. franchise located at 1028 Boulevard in West Hartford. OLAYIWOLA further admitted that he used false identifications, which were obtained by using others' names and social security numbers, to open the mailboxes at the commercial mail receiving agencies to facilitate the credit card fraud. He subsequently used or caused others to use the credit cards fraudulently obtained, without the authorization of the true account holders, to withdraw funds and purchase items in and around the New York metropolitan area.

"Federal law enforcement is committed to investigating and prosecuting identity theft to the fullest extent," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated.

As part of his guilty plea, OLAYIWOLA has agreed to pay restitution to victims of the fraud in the amount of $65,700.

OLAYIWOLA was arrested by West Hartford Police on June 24, 2003, when he was discovered in possession of a fraudulent credit card. On November 24, 2003, a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford returned a three-count Indictment charging OLAYIWOLA with unauthorized use of access devices and identity theft.

OLAYIWOLA is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton on May 28, 2004. At that time, he faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and officers of the West Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas V. Daily.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov