Nigarian Extradited to the U.S. after being Indicted for Financially-Motivated Sextortion Scheme that Caused Death of a Mississippi Teenager

OXFORD, Miss. - Adebola Festus Adekunle, 26 years old, of Lagos, Nigeria, has been extradited to the United States from Nigeria to face prosecution in an unsealed indictment for the financially-motivated sextortion of a Mississippi minor, which lead to the victim's death.

The three-count federal indictment charges Adekunle with the sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, the production of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, and interstate threats with intent to extort. He appeared in federal court in Oxford, Mississippi for an initial appearance on August 28, 2026.

Adekunle was arrested in Nigeria in August of 2023, as part of a wider operation with the FBI to apprehend sexual extortionists targeting minors in the United States. He was extradited to the United States on Thursday, August 27, 2026, with the assistance of the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, and FBI agents from the Jackson Resident Agency, who traveled to Nigeria and took him into U.S. custody. The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities was essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria's Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice's International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Adekunle faces up to life in prison, and mandatory minimum prison sentences on at least two charges. The child exploitation resulting in death count carries a mandatory 30-year prison sentence, if found guilty of that charge.

United States Attorney Scott Leary stated, "Several weeks ago we announced an undercover operation dealing with child exploitation, which resulted in 70 arrests. Unfortunately, here we are again in an unrelated child victimization case. This time a child died. The dedication involved in this case cannot be overstated. This tragedy was immediately investigated by the Mississippi Attorney General, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, the Starkville Police Department and the FBI. The evidence led agents to Nigeria. Undeterred, the FBI worked with DOJ's Office of International Affairs for years, and eventually the defendant was extradited from Nigeria to face justice in the United States. We are thankful for the hard work of Nigeria's Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Working together, state, federal and international agencies brought us here today."

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff stated, "Sextortion is a serious crime with devastating consequences. Its impact on victims and their families is profound and long-lasting. The extradition of Adekunle sends a clear and unmistakable message: crossing state lines does not erase criminal charges, and international borders do not shield individuals from accountability."

"Walker Montgomery should be here with us today," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "He should be moving into his dormitory, meeting up with friends, and running to class. That he is not is a tragedy. And it is because of the criminal acts of someone halfway around the world - someone who has been brought back to the United States now to stand trial for his actions. This trial cannot bring back Walker and the Montgomery family will always hurt. But I hope that today they get some closure, and assurances that Walker will get justice."

The case is being investigated by the FBI Jackson Field Office, the FBI's Violent Crimes Against Children Section and International Operations Division, and the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King.

These cases are a result of Operation Artemis, the FBI's surge against financially motivated sextortion rings operating from Nigeria. In coordination with domestic and international law for enforcement partners, the FBI deployed agents, analysts, and forensic experts to Nigeria to confront perpetrators of these deadly schemes-directly linked to dozens of American teen deaths by suicide.

This same focused, multi-agency approach now drives a broader national effort to dismantle the foreign criminal networks behind sextortion and other predatory schemes. The US Government's Financially Motivated Sextortion Campaign Team coordinates across agencies, prioritizes victims, and brings every available tool to bear in its fight to bring to justice those who prey on American families.

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If someone you know is being victimized by sextortion, please report to local law enforcement and to the FBI. Learn more about sextortion and find resources for parents, caregivers, and teachers.