Nigerian Man Arrested in US Over $10m Covid-19 Unemployment Fraud
A Nigerian, Yomi Olayeye, has been arrested in the United States for his alleged role in a $10 million Covid-19 unemployment assistance fraud scheme.
Excel Magazine International gathered that Olayeye, 40, from Lagos, was apprehended on August 13 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Olayeye and others conspired to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million in Covid-19 unemployment benefits by using stolen personal information to apply for benefits in multiple states.
If convicted, Olayeye faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.
This is not the first time Nigerians have been implicated in Covid-19 related fraud schemes in the US.
In 2020, several Nigerians were arrested for their roles in a massive Covid-19 unemployment benefits scam.
