A U.S. court has sentenced Nigerian-born, U.S.-based Oluwole Adegboruwa, 54, and his accomplice, Enrique Isong, 49, to a combined 40 years in prison for their roles in masterminding a multi-million dollar dark web drug trafficking operation.
The sentencing was announced in a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Utah, on Friday.
Adegboruwa, the leader of the operation, ran a criminal syndicate that used a dark web marketplace to distribute oxycodone pills. Between October 2016 and May 2019, he and his associates sold over 300,000 oxycodone pills, generating approximately $9.1 million in proceeds.
Adegboruwa was sentenced to 30 years in prison in November 2024, while Isong was sentenced to 10 years in October 2024.
The statement explained that Adegboruwa controlled the dark web sales and directed the packaging and distribution of the drugs.
“The jury found that Adegboruwa was unquestionably in charge of the illicit narcotics operation. Each member of his enterprise served in different capacities. Some were tasked with locating and procuring pharmacy-grade pills that were then re-sold through various dark web marketplaces. Others were involved in packaging the pills and/or shipping them to customers,” it stated.
Adegboruwa admitted in court that he controlled the sales and monetary accounts, including the cryptocurrency accounts used to process the illicit profits.
“Adegboruwa also admitted he was the one who decided to start his online dark web drug sales operation.”
Adegboruwa was also ordered to forfeit over $20 million, one of the largest forfeitures in the history of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jill N. Parish after Adegboruwa and Isong were found guilty of multiple federal crimes, including conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and money laundering. On October 23, 2024, Isong was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah commented, “Protecting the community from illicit drugs and dismantling drug trafficking operations is a priority for my office and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins.
“We will continue to prosecute and seek justice for these crimes.”
Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen of the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division highlighted the sophisticated nature of Adegboruwa’s operation, stating, “Adegboruwa’s criminal drug enterprise was complex, sophisticated, and generated millions of dollars in profits concealed in cryptocurrency transactions.
This sentencing is a stark reminder that the DEA is relentless in the pursuit of justice, and that drug traffickers cannot hide their illicit activities even in the secretive expanses of the dark web.”
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Furthermore, Glen Henderson, U.S. Postal Inspection Services State Phoenix Division Inspector in Charge, added, “This case further demonstrates that true anonymity on the dark web is a myth. U.S.
Postal Inspectors remain steadfast in their commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations, ensuring the safety of USPS customers and employees alike.”
IRS Criminal Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick also emphasized the importance of the investigation, stating, “Money laundering continues to be a top investigative priority for IRS-CI. The forfeiture amount in this case alone highlights the magnitude of the investigation conducted by IRS-CI special agents, its impact on our community, and IRS-CI’s relentless commitment to uncovering illegal schemes by following the money.”
The investigation was carried out jointly by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thaddeus J. May, Jennifer E. Gully, and Stewart M. Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
