FBI Offers $10,000 Reward for Fugitive Olumide Adebiyi Adediran
Fugitive Wanted for More Than Two Decades After Disappearing Before Federal Fraud Trial
Olumide Adebiyi Adediran is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation after fleeing Illinois shortly before he was scheduled to stand trial on federal fraud charges more than two decades ago. Adediran is wanted for violation of conditions of release in connection with a case involving bank fraud, identification document fraud, and credit card fraud. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Adediran disappeared from the Central District of Illinois at the end of December 2001, shortly before his federal trial was scheduled to begin. A federal arrest warrant was issued on January 2, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Urbana after he was charged with violating the conditions of his release. More than two decades later, Adediran remains a federal fugitive and continues to appear on the FBI’s white-collar crime wanted list.
Fraud Case Began in Illinois
The case against Adediran dates back to August 2001, when he entered a bank in Champaign, Illinois, and attempted to retrieve money associated with a fraudulent check that had been deposited. The incident became part of a larger federal fraud case involving financial accounts and the misuse of identification information. Federal authorities also accused Adediran of using personal information belonging to United States citizens to establish bank and charge accounts.
Identity information can provide criminals with the ability to open financial accounts under another person’s name, obtain credit, and conduct transactions that appear to belong to the victim. In Adediran’s case, the federal charges included fraud and related activity involving identification documents as well as fraudulent credit card transactions. Those charges were pending when his case was scheduled to proceed to trial.
Adediran Disappears Before Trial
By the end of December 2001, Adediran was approaching a federal trial in the Central District of Illinois on charges of bank fraud, identification document fraud, and credit card fraud. Instead of appearing and allowing the federal case to proceed, authorities say he fled the district. His disappearance resulted in an additional federal charge for violation of conditions of release.
On January 2, 2002, the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois issued a federal warrant for Adediran’s arrest in Urbana, Illinois. That warrant has remained outstanding for more than 24 years. His case has consequently developed from a federal financial-fraud prosecution into one of the FBI’s long-running fugitive investigations.
More Than Two Decades on the Run
The length of time Adediran has remained wanted makes his case particularly notable. Many of the FBI’s current white-collar fugitives are connected to investigations from recent years, while Adediran’s federal warrant dates back to the beginning of 2002. Despite the passage of more than two decades, the FBI continues to publicly seek information that could lead authorities to him.
The FBI currently includes Adediran in its national white-collar crime wanted listings, and he is also specifically featured by the FBI’s Springfield Field Office. His continued appearance in both listings confirms that the federal warrant remains active and that investigators continue to seek his location. The FBI has also maintained a financial reward to encourage individuals with useful information to come forward.
$10,000 FBI Reward
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Olumide Adebiyi Adediran. Rewards can be particularly important in long-running fugitive investigations because circumstances and relationships can change considerably over time. Someone who knew a fugitive decades ago may now possess information about a different name, location, employment history, family connection, or other detail that could assist investigators.
The reward also demonstrates that authorities continue to seek actionable information despite the age of the case. Adediran would now look considerably older than he did when the original fraud investigation and arrest warrant were issued. The FBI has therefore made multiple photographs available through its wanted profile to assist members of the public in identifying him.
Who Is Olumide Adebiyi Adediran?
Adediran’s listed date of birth is October 11, 1968, which would make him 57 years old as of August 2026. The FBI describes him as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Because more than two decades have passed since he disappeared, his current appearance may differ significantly from photographs taken around the time of the original investigation.
Federal authorities have identified numerous aliases associated with Adediran. These include Kevin Olumide Adediran, Kevin Deumiof Adediran, Eric O. Williams, Stephen Dediyi, Maxo Alexandre, Olumide Adkins, Ademola O. Adebiyi, Stephen Adebiyi, Stephen Debivi, Olumide Adebiy Adediran, Edward N. Anderson, James Gill, and Kevin Olumide Adebiy. The number of names associated with him is particularly important because individuals attempting to remain unidentified over long periods may use alternate identities when conducting everyday activities.
Ties to South Florida
The FBI states that Adediran has ties to South Florida, providing one of the most important publicly identified geographic connections in the search for him. The bureau does not currently identify a specific South Florida city as his present location on its wanted profile. Anyone who recognizes Adediran from the FBI’s photographs or aliases should therefore treat the information as potentially significant regardless of how much time has passed since they encountered him.
South Florida is geographically distant from Champaign and Urbana, Illinois, where the original federal case developed. That connection demonstrates why the investigation is not limited to the area where Adediran was originally charged. A fugitive who has remained missing for more than two decades may have established connections far from the jurisdiction where the original warrant was issued.
Identity Fraud and Financial Accounts
One significant component of the federal case involves the use of stolen personal information. Authorities say Adediran used information belonging to United States citizens to open bank and charge accounts, allowing financial activity to be conducted using identities that did not belong to him. Identity-based financial fraud can leave victims dealing with unauthorized accounts, damaged credit records, disputed debts, and other consequences long after the original transactions occur.
The charges connected to Adediran’s case reflect several different forms of financial fraud rather than a single disputed transaction. His FBI wanted notice references bank fraud, fraud involving identification documents and information, and fraudulent credit card transactions made using an access device. The violation-of-release charge was added after he disappeared before the federal proceedings could be completed.
The Challenge of Finding a Long-Term Fugitive
A fugitive investigation becomes increasingly complicated as years pass. Physical appearance changes, old addresses become irrelevant, employment histories evolve, and individuals may establish entirely new social and professional networks. Investigators must therefore rely on photographs, aliases, personal connections, historical records, and information provided by members of the public to identify new leads.
In Adediran’s case, the extensive list of aliases creates another challenge for investigators. A person who has encountered him may recognize a photograph but know him by an entirely different name from the one appearing on the federal warrant. Publishing the aliases alongside his photograph increases the likelihood that someone familiar with one of those identities could recognize the connection.
FBI Springfield Continues to Seek Adediran
The FBI’s Springfield Field Office is responsible for the wanted notice involving Adediran. He remains listed alongside other individuals sought in connection with federal investigations handled by that office. His presence on the FBI’s national white-collar crime wanted list also ensures that the search extends beyond Illinois.
Federal fugitives can be arrested years or even decades after warrants are originally issued. The passage of time does not automatically eliminate an outstanding federal arrest warrant, and old cases can be revived quickly when new information identifies a fugitive’s location. For that reason, even information that appears minor can potentially help investigators establish where a wanted individual has been living or traveling.
Adediran Remains Wanted
Olumide Adebiyi Adediran remains wanted for violation of conditions of release after fleeing shortly before his federal fraud trial was scheduled to begin. The arrest warrant issued on January 2, 2002, remains associated with his FBI wanted notice, and authorities continue to identify South Florida as an area to which he has ties. The FBI is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information concerning Adediran’s whereabouts should contact the FBI directly rather than attempting to confront, follow, detain, or apprehend him. Information can be provided through a local FBI office or through the FBI’s official tip system, while individuals outside the United States can contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Even after more than two decades, information concerning his current identity, residence, employment, associates, or travel could be significant to investigators.
Sources
FBI — Official Wanted Profile:
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wcc/olumide-adebiyi-adediran
FBI — Official Wanted Poster:
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wcc/olumide-adebiyi-adediran/download.pdf
FBI Springfield — Wanted and Missing Persons:
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/springfield/wanted
