Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

A Brooklyn resident has pleaded guilty to charges related to a nationwide bank fraud and money laundering scheme, federal prosecutors announced.

David Daniyan, 60, also known by multiple aliases, admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that defrauded financial institutions of more than $1.7 million. Prosecutors say Daniyan worked alongside Oluwaseun Adekoya, 39, of New Jersey, and recruited others to use stolen identities to obtain cash, checks, loans, and credit from various retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue.

According to court records, Daniyan also participated in laundering the fraudulent proceeds by acquiring fake driver’s licenses and depositing illicit funds into accounts controlled by co-conspirators. The scheme, which operated across the United States, was initially uncovered following Daniyan’s arrest in May 2022 in the Capital Region.

Daniyan, a Nigerian citizen, has resided in the U.S. under multiple identities since at least the 1990s, according to prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2025, where he faces up to 30 years for bank fraud conspiracy, 20 years for money laundering conspiracy, and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft. Additionally, he has agreed to forfeit nearly $100,000 and faces an order of restitution of at least $1.77 million. After serving his sentence, he will be placed in immigration removal proceedings.

Several other individuals have been charged in connection with the case. Among them, Adekoya faces multiple counts of bank fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and identity theft. Other defendants, including residents from Brooklyn, New Jersey, and Virginia, face similar charges. Some co-defendants have already pleaded guilty.

The case is the result of an extensive investigation by the FBI’s Albany Field Office, with support from multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the country. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.

Authorities emphasize that charges against remaining defendants are accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.