46-year-old Nigerian man, Fatiu Ismaila Lawal, has been sentenced to 54 months in U.S. federal prison for defrauding American pandemic aid programs of more than $1 million, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
Lawal, along with his co-defendant Sakiru Olanrewaju Ambali, used stolen identities of over 14,000 workers to file more than 1,700 fraudulent unemployment claims across 25 states, including Washington, D.C.
The fraudulent claims sought approximately $25 million, with the conspirators successfully obtaining $2.7 million, primarily from pandemic unemployment benefits.
However, Lawal admitted to personally submitting claims totaling $1,345,472.
Lawal, who had been residing in Canada, was extradited to the U.S. in July 2024 and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in September.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright emphasized the scale and sophistication of the crime, stating, “This took advantage of programs designed to help people who were really struggling in an international emergency.”
“This defendant made it his full-time job to defraud the U.S. for years before the pandemic, but he kicked it into high gear once critical aid to Americans workers was flowing,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman.
“His fraud included using stolen identities of Washington residents to file dozens of unemployment claims in the first few weeks of the pandemic, contributing to the flood of fraudulent claims that caused the state to pause all unemployment payments. In this way his fraud harmed all Washingtonians who desperately needed assistance at the onset of the pandemic.”
Meanwhile, evidence gathered in the case shows that Lawal personally received a substantial portion of the criminal proceeds. Lawal was ordered to pay restitution of $1,345,472.
Co-defendant Ambali was sentenced to 42 months in prison in March 2024.
| Posted: at | |
TRENDING GISTS 
UK Police Recover Body Of 16Yr Old British-Nigerian Boy Who Drowned In A Lake
PHOTOS: Young Woman Brutally Murdered By Suspected Ritualists, Priv@te Part Removed In Ogun
Lovely Video Of Singer Davido And His Wife, Chioma Vibing To His Song
Woman Slams Her Husband For Allegedly Having Unprotected S3x With Random Girls After Publicly Apologizing To Her
Actress, Laide Bakare Crowned UN Ambassador Of Peace
Actress, Uche Montana Celebrates Birthday With New Stunning Photos
VIDEO: President Tinubu Conferred With a Chieftaincy Title in Anambra State
Passengers Killed, Vehicles Set Ablaze As Gunmen Attack Commercial Bus in Imo