A Nigerian-Irish man, Ajibola Oduntan, is at the center of a ticket scam that drained more than $100,000 from the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts during the blockbuster run of the musical ‘Wicked’ in Louisville last year.

Federal prosecutors allege that Oduntan, who was arrested upon entering the United States in August, used a web of stolen credit card details and multiple email accounts to buy dozens of premium tickets between September and October 2023. The tickets were later resold on online platforms such as StubHub, allowing him and alleged accomplices to pocket the proceeds.

The scheme left the arts center helpless. When victims of the stolen cards disputed the fraudulent charges, banks issued chargebacks, forcing the Kentucky Center to refund money for tickets that had already been used by unsuspecting buyers. By then, the seats were long gone and the losses irrecoverable.

Investigators said  the Nigerian- Irish man moved more than $350,000 through StubHub and PayPal accounts over 18 months. FBI cyber agents linked his online activity to the same phone number he used on his US visa waiver application. Court filings also show one of his accounts was tied to at least 61 ticket resales, while a co-conspirator flipped 77 more.

The Nigerian man, who carries an Irish passport, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is currently in custody, with a trial scheduled for November 10.