A U.S. federal court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Abiola Quadri, to 11 years and three months in prison for masterminding a large-scale fraud scheme that siphoned over $1.3 million in COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment and disability benefits.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Quadri, operating from outside the United States, conspired with others to exploit relief programs designed to support American citizens during the pandemic.
He was found guilty of using stolen identities and falsified documents to file fraudulent claims with several state unemployment agencies and the Social Security Administration.
The elaborate scheme targeted pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) and disability benefit programs, which were part of the emergency response measures rolled out by the U.S. government in 2020.
Authorities said Quadri and his network submitted hundreds of fake claims using the personal information of unsuspecting individuals across multiple states, including California and Maryland.
Quadri, who was arrested after an investigation involving the FBI and other federal agencies, was extradited to the United States to face trial.
The court also ordered him to pay restitution for the stolen funds and forfeit assets linked to the fraud.
“Quadri exploited a national crisis to enrich himself, stealing taxpayer dollars meant to support struggling Americans,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“This sentence sends a strong message that pandemic-related fraud will be aggressively prosecuted.”
The case is one of many the U.S. Department of Justice has pursued as part of a nationwide crackdown on COVID-19 financial fraud.
Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant against identity theft and fraudulent claims, promising continued enforcement actions against both domestic and international perpetrators.
