Maryland woman and Virginia convicted of financial crimes against nonprofit now face federal prison sentences

Alexandria, Virginia – A federal jury has found a Virginia man and a Maryland woman guilty for their roles in a sophisticated fraud and money laundering scheme that siphoned funds from a nonprofit organization focused on global public health. The convictions mark the culmination of a years-long investigation into a deliberate effort to exploit organizational trust for personal gain.

False Contracts and Fabricated Invoices

According to evidence presented during trial, Abiodun A. Ogunwale, 46, of Haymarket, Virginia, served as Director of Business Development for the nonprofit from December 1, 2014, to August 21, 2020. In this role, Ogunwale had significant authority over the hiring and payment of consultants, as well as control over departmental expenses.

In August 2016, Ogunwale brought on Abimbola Ajayi, 41, of Rockville, Maryland, as a business development consultant. From the outset, however, their professional arrangement was rooted in deception. “Ajayi purportedly served as a business development consultant for the non-profit through May 2020,” but witnesses testified they had never seen or worked with her. Instead, Ogunwale was behind the scenes orchestrating a false narrative.

Ogunwale drafted invoices and fabricated descriptions of work for Ajayi, even going so far as to write the emails she would send to the nonprofit. He used his personal email to transmit fraudulent documents and then, in his capacity as director, approved the bogus invoices.

Kickbacks and Money Laundering

Funds obtained through this ruse were funneled back to Ogunwale via cash deposits into his company, Compass Management Services and Solutions, LLC, and by making payments on his credit card debt. “Ogunwale also conspired with Ajayi to submit fraudulent receipts claiming false business expenses for which her company, AbbiFabDynamics, LLC, was paid.” These transactions effectively laundered the proceeds of the scheme under the guise of legitimate business payments.

But the conspiracy didn’t stop there. Ogunwale also hired a family member as a consultant and used that relative to file additional false expense reports. In multiple instances, Ogunwale submitted bogus reimbursements claiming Compass Management was due payment for services never rendered.

The jury convicted Ogunwale and Ajayi of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and in Ogunwale’s case, mail fraud.

Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison for each count and are scheduled for sentencing on August 7.