Admin l Wednesday, November 15, 2017
NEWARK, New Jersey – A Brooklyn, New York, man was arrested this morning for allegedly collecting drug distribution proceeds and laundering money on behalf of a heroin distribution conspiracy operating out of Nigeria, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Anderson Ajimavo, 62, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court.
According to the complaint:
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have been investigating a drug trafficking organization operating in Nigeria, New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere. During that investigation, law enforcement learned that the drug trafficking organization employed individuals to ingest heroin pellets and fly to the United States to deliver the drugs to other members of the organization.
Ajimavo was allegedly employed by the drug trafficking organization to collect, transmit, and launder the narcotics proceeds. A confidential source (CS-1) who received the heroin from the couriers after they arrived in the United States was instructed by the leader of the drug trafficking organization to pay for the heroin through Ajimavo.
On a least four occasions from November 2016 through March 2017, CS-1 met with Ajimavo and paid him a total of over $75,000 in narcotics proceeds, which Ajimavo was to transmit to the drug trafficking organization in Nigeria.
The heroin distribution conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment, and a $10 million fine. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
The charges and allegations against Ajimavo are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the direction of Acting Director of Field Operations Leon Hayward, New York Field Office, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Williams of the U.S. Attorney’s Office OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
