A United States court has sentenced three Nigerians — Kamaldeen Karaole, Stephen Olamigoke, and Johnson Omodusonu — to more than eight years in prison for defrauding the US government of $520,910 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
One of the convicts also agreed to be deported to Nigeria after serving his jail term.
According to a statement released by the US Department of Justice on Thursday, the trio stole at least 168 unemployment insurance debit cards in 2020. Between August and October that year, they conspired with others outside the US to use stolen identities to file false claims.
Court documents revealed that they used 98 of the cards to withdraw cash from ATMs across Indianapolis, often making multiple withdrawals within minutes. In total, they conducted 529 withdrawals amounting to $520,910.
The statement explained, “These cards, issued by the states of California, Arizona, and Nevada, were periodically loaded with benefits. None of the cards belonged to the conspirators; they were all in the names of real individuals.”
Karaole, 24, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit access device fraud, and access device fraud. He received four years and three months in prison, plus two years of supervised release.
Olamigoke, 23, was convicted of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and access device fraud. He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and two years of supervised release. He also acknowledged that he would face deportation after serving his term.
Omodusonu, 24, from Indianapolis, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and access device fraud. He was sentenced to two years in prison and two years of supervised release.
Each defendant must also pay $520,910 in restitution.