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Date: 10-15-2019
Case Style:
Case Number: 4:18-cr-00342
Judge: Gray Miller
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Harris County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Jay Hileman
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Houston, TX - Jury convicts Nigerian for presenting fake British documents to open local bank accounts
A jury has returned a guilty verdict against a 57-year-old Nigerian man for committing passport fraud. The jury deliberated for one hour before convicting Ademola Okulaja, Kingwood, following a two-day trial.
On June 6, 2016, Okulaja opened a checking account at a Houston branch of the International Bank of Commerce (IBC). At that time, he claimed to be a British citizen known as �Michael Millet� and provided the bank with a fraudulent passport the United Kingdon purportedly issued.
Okulaja entered a different IBC Branch in Houston on Nov. 21, 2016, and opened another checking account. This time, he used the name �David Allen� and presented another fraudulent British passport.
The defense conceded the passports were counterfeit, but attempted to convince the jury Okulaja was not the person presenting those passports to open the accounts. The jury was not convinced and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Gray Miller presided over the trial and set sentencing for Jan. 23, 2020. At that time, Okulaja faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.
Charge:
FALSE USE OF A PASSPORT
Outcome: 10/09/2019 50 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Gray H Miller: DAY TWO OF JURY TRIAL as to Ademola Babatunde Okulaja held on 10/9/2019. Defendant' exhibits 10c and 10e ADMITTED. Government's witnesses: Shamsa Momin, Patricia Bonteski-Alegre, Katherine Langston, Matthew Boyden. Charge conference held. Government rest. Defendant's oral motion for acquittal DENIED as stated on the record. Defendant rests. Charge to the jury. Closing argument by Government and defendant. Rebuttal argument by Government. Jurors 8 and 11 are dismissed as alternates. Jury deliberating. Jury verdict received - guilty on counts 1 and 2. Government's motion to detain defendant is DENIED as stated on the record. Appearances: Jay Hileman, Benjamin Clark Sandel, Marjorie A Meyers, Darryl Emmanuel Austin.(Court Reporter: F.Warner) Deft continued on Bond, filed.(rkonieczny, 4) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
10/09/2019 51 Jury Instructions (and proposed verdict form) as to Ademola Babatunde Okulaja, filed. (rkonieczny, 4) (Entered: 10/10/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: