 |
| Three Nigerians Jailed in US Prison |
A U.S. federal court has sentenced three men, including two Nigerians, for orchestrating a COVID-19 unemployment benefits fraud scheme that stole more than $520,000 meant for struggling American workers during the pandemic.
The convicts are:
-
Kamaldeen Karaole, 24, of Indianapolis
-
Stephen Olamigoke, 23, of Nigeria
-
Johnson Omodusonu, 24, of Indianapolis
Court documents revealed that the trio conspired with partners outside the United States between August and October 2020 to exploit unemployment programs in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
How the Scheme Worked
The scheme involved stealing 168 unemployment debit cards and PINs, filing fake claims using stolen identities, and loading the benefits onto the cards. The defendants then used 98 of these cards to make 529 ATM withdrawals across Indianapolis, often within minutes of each other. In total, the fraud netted $520,910.
Sentencing Details
At sentencing, the men received the following penalties:
-
Kamaldeen Karaole: 4 years and 3 months in prison, plus 2 years of supervised release.
-
Stephen Olamigoke: 2.5 years in prison, with deportation to follow after serving his sentence.
-
Johnson Omodusonu: 2 years in prison.
All three were ordered to repay the $520,910 stolen from the U.S. unemployment system.
Officials Condemn the Fraud
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Tom Wheeler, condemned the defendants, stating:
“Stealing unemployment benefits meant to help people survive during one of the worst crises in modern history is both heartless and criminal. These defendants exploited a system designed to support those in genuine need, and now they are being held accountable for their greed.”
Federal agencies involved in the investigation also criticized the scheme. Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting unemployment programs. Felicia George, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, emphasized that such crimes undermine trust in public systems, while FBI Indianapolis Special Agent Timothy J. O’Malley condemned the exploitation of a national crisis for personal gain.
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, with sentencing carried out by Judge James Patrick Hanlon. The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Impact of the Case
This sentencing serves as a stark reminder that fraud targeting public aid programs will be rigorously investigated and prosecuted. Authorities emphasized that protecting unemployment benefits is essential to ensuring support reaches those truly in need, especially during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
0 Comments