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A 38-year-old Nigerian national was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Friday, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.

Onomen Uduebor faces a three-count indictment for allegedly stealing and misusing local tax information after being extradited from the U.K.

The indictment, initially filed in 2019, was unsealed on Friday when Uduebor appeared in court for the first time. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial is set for May. He faces charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

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Scammers steal over $1 M

According to court documents, between 2016 and 2017 Uduebor and his associates sent phishing emails that appeared to come from a company executive asking for W-2 data. They used the W-2 information to file more than 300 bogus tax returns claiming over $1 million in tax refunds. The scheme targeted both local businesses and organizations across the United States, including a Tukwila-based company.

Wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum of two years in prison.

“The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations,” a spokesperson with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”

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