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Previously Deported Nigerian Pleads Guilty To Ripping Off The US For $12 Million

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Eric Lieberman Managing Editor
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A Nigerian citizen living in St. Louis pled guilty Thursday to a number of crimes, all of which were committed after he was deported several years ago.

Kevin Kunlay Williams, known as Kunlay Sodipo when originally entering the U.S., illegally returned to the country in 1999 after being expelled roughly four years prior.

Upon return, Williams and other perpetrators stole public school employees’ official IDs from an outside company, according to the Department of Justice press release. They then used the credentials to unlawfully file more than 2,000 federal income tax returns, amounting to more than $12 million in prospective refunds. Williams purloined a number of official tax-related banking numbers used for refunds, even printing and forging blank checks. (RELATED: Man Allegedly Dupes Companies Into Wiring Him $100 Million)

He also successfully registered to vote in all elections — local, state, and federal — by fraudulently claiming that he was a U.S. citizen. He ultimately voted in both the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections.

Williams, 56, pled guilty to the specific charges of mail fraud, voter fraud, aggravated identity theft and illegally re-entering the county after having been removed. Mail fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, while aggravated identity theft has a required minimum sentence of two years. He also could face five years in prison for each voter fraud count, and 10 years in prison for illegal reentry. If the judge orders him to serve at least some of the sentences consecutively, Williams could easily be in jail for the rest of his life, although concurrent judgements are more likely.

His sentencing before a federal court is scheduled for Oct. 13.

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