The United States Department of Justice has initiated legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship of Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem, citing his role in a multi-million-dollar identity theft and tax fraud scheme.
In a complaint filed before a federal court in Baltimore, Maryland, US authorities allege that Kazeem fraudulently secured his American citizenship while concealing criminal activities tied to a large-scale operation that targeted over 259,000 individuals.
The DOJ said the scheme involved the use of stolen personal identifying information to file thousands of fake tax returns in a bid to claim more than $91 million in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service.
Kazeem was convicted in 2017 on 19 counts, including mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy, and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He, however, served six years before receiving clemency in December 2024 from former US President Joe Biden.
Despite the commutation, prosecutors argue that Kazeem’s conduct — both prior to and after his naturalisation — disqualifies him from retaining US citizenship. The complaint also accuses him of entering into a fraudulent marriage to obtain permanent residency, further undermining his eligibility.
According to investigators, the fraud came to light in 2013 following complaints from victims whose identities were used to file false tax returns. Subsequent raids across multiple US states uncovered cash, prepaid debit cards, and electronic devices linked to the operation.
Authorities said Kazeem acquired tens of thousands of stolen identities from a foreign hacker and distributed them to co-conspirators, including his brother, to execute the scheme. The network was linked to over 10,000 fraudulent tax filings, with more than $11.6 million successfully paid out.
Financial records also showed that at least $2.1 million was transferred to Nigeria, while proceeds were used to purchase properties in Maryland and fund an ambitious hotel project in Lagos.
Kazeem was arrested in 2015 and later ordered to pay over $12 million in restitution following a joint investigation involving the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies.
The Justice Department said the move to strip him of citizenship reflects a broader effort to ensure that individuals who obtain such status through fraud are held accountable under US law.
Leave a Reply