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A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Yomi Jones Olayeye, was arrested in New York on August 13, 2024, for his alleged involvement in a $10 million COVID-19 unemployment fraud scheme.
The arrest occurred at John F. Kennedy International Airport as Olayeye, also known as “Sabbie,” arrived from Lagos, Nigeria.
The charges against him, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and several federal law enforcement agencies, include wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, which carry severe penalties of up to 20 years in prison, hefty fines, and restitution.
According to the charging document, Olayeye and his co-conspirators defrauded multiple pandemic assistance programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), between March and July 2020.
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They allegedly used personally identifiable information (PII) obtained from criminal internet forums to falsely represent themselves as eligible state residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fraud scheme targeted unemployment insurance agencies across several states, including Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Michigan. In total, Olayeye and his associates applied for at least $10 million in fraudulent benefits and received over $1.5 million in payments to which they were not entitled.
This case highlights the importance of strict enforcement to deter such fraudulent activities, particularly those that tarnish the reputation of Nigerians internationally.
By holding Olayeye accountable, authorities aim to send a clear message that such criminal behavior will not be tolerated and to discourage others from engaging in similar schemes.
