Afrigather Because the listing of these apprehended and charged for exploiting COVID-19 reduction funds in the US grows, an growing variety of Nigerians are among the many accused. The reduction initiative, established to assist Individuals dealing with hardships in the course of the pandemic, grew to become a goal for fraud. As a substitute of aiding the hassle, some selected to use it for private acquire.
The New York Occasions reported that by August 2023, over 3,100 people had been indicted for pandemic-related fraud, together with a gaggle of Nigerians. These people not solely engaged in fraudulent actions but additionally used the stolen funds to ship luxurious automobiles to Nigeria.
Yomi Jones Olayeye
The U.S. Justice Division has intensified its efforts to deliver these offenders to justice, ensuing within the arrest and prosecution of at the very least eight Nigerians concerned in these fraudulent schemes. Sadly, amongst these have been a number of Nigerians who ended up in huge hassle.
Huge Catch at JFK Meet Yomi Olayeye, also called Sabbie. His story begins at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport in New York Metropolis, the place he was arrested for a serious fraud.
He managed to swipe at the very least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment advantages. Charged with wire fraud and aggravated id theft, Yomi may resist 20 years behind bars if convicted. He obtained caught between March and July 2020, tapping into funds meant to assist individuals who misplaced their jobs due to the pandemic.
Abidemi Rufai
Abidemi Rufai, who as soon as labored intently with the Governor of Ogun State. He was nabbed at JFK too, however in Might 2021. Abidemi’s methodology? He stole the identities of over 20,000 Individuals to file faux claims value over $2 million. His fraudulent actions date again to 2017, involving false catastrophe claims from hurricanes. In 2022, he confessed to his crimes and acquired a five-year sentence.
Olamide, Quazeem, and Ayodeji
In California, Olamide Yusuf Bakare discovered himself sentenced to almost 5 years in jail for wire fraud in the course of the pandemic. He wasn’t working alone; he had companions—Quazeem Owolabi Adeyinka and Ayodeji Jonathan Sangode. They crafted faux claims for unemployment advantages in Maryland and California. Quazeem and Ayodeji additionally confronted the music in court docket, receiving sentences of 26 and 14 months, respectively.
Olushola and Olugbeminiyi
Over in Georgia, Olushola Afolabi and Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe admitted their guilt in Might 2022. They used stolen identities to pocket over $4 million in advantages. They even tried to rip-off a number of different states! They’re ready to listen to how lengthy they’ll spend in jail, however they might be as much as 20 years.
Bamidele Muraina
Lastly, there’s Bamidele Muraina. He was sentenced in September 2021 after he hacked into tax corporations, filed bogus tax returns and unemployment claims utilizing stolen data. He centered on Washington residents, tapping into federal pandemic reduction funds and channeling them into accounts managed by his accomplices.
