TexasBitcoin
Guilty pleaSouthern Texas

Two plead guilty in large-scale interstate email scam scheme

Sep 25, 2025 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice

This case reached the guilty plea stage in the Department of Justice's public record. Everything below reflects only what the government itself announced, and links to the original release.

A Houston man and woman have pleaded guilty to their respective roles in an identity theft and business email compromise scam (BEC)

Announced

Sep 25, 2025

Status

Guilty plea

Defendants

  • Bolaji Okunnuage 31 · Houston · pleaded guilty
  • Amber Bushage 30 · Houston · pleaded guilty
  • Destini Godfreyage 31 · Houston · charged, fugitive

Charges

  • Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business

    Max: five years in federal prisonBolaji Okunnu· pleaded guilty

  • Aggravated identity theft (using the name and personal identifying information of a real person without consent to open a bank account)

    Max: mandatory prison term of two yearsAmber Bush· pleaded guilty

  • Business email compromise wire fraud scheme

    Destini Godfrey· charged (fugitive)

Financial actions

  • fine: $250,000Maximum possible fine that could be ordered at sentencing
  • fine: $250,000Maximum possible fine that could be ordered at sentencing
  • fraudulent transfer: $165,000Four checks issued to Godfrey from a bank account funded by a stolen check

Investigating agencies

Federal Bureau of InvestigationIRS Criminal InvestigationMiddlesex County District Attorney's OfficeEdison Police DepartmentU.S. Attorney's Office

Case details

Prosecuting office
Southern District of Texas
Judge
George Hanks, U.S. District Judge
Business Email Compromise (Bec) ScamCheck Theft And FraudFugitive StatusIdentity TheftInterstate And Multi-Agency Law Enforcement CooperationLarge-Scale Fraud ProsecutionMoney LaunderingUnlicensed Money Transmitting Business

Primary source

Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.

Read the original DOJ release →

This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.