Yomi Olayeye, a 40-year-old Nigerian from Lagos, has been arrested in connection with a $10 million scheme to defraud COVID-19 unemployment assistance programs in the United States. Olayeye, also known as “Sabbie,” was apprehended on August 13, 2024, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. He faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Olayeye and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained at least $10 million in pandemic unemployment benefits between March and July 2020. They exploited three federal assistance programs: traditional unemployment insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC). The fraudulent activities spanned multiple states, including Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Indiana.
The scheme involved using stolen personal information purchased from criminal internet forums to apply for benefits in various states. Olayeye and his accomplices allegedly opened U.S. bank and prepaid debit card accounts to receive the fraudulent payments and then used the funds to purchase Bitcoin. They also concealed their ties to Nigeria by using U.S.-based IP addresses for their online activities.
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicated that Olayeye faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, along with a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft. Additionally, he may be subject to fines, forfeiture, and restitution. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.
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