Three Nigerians living in the United States—Kamaldeen Karaole, Stephen Olamigoke, and Johnson Omodusonu—have been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding the US of (about ₦780 million) in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
The trio stole 168 Unemployment Insurance (UI) debit cards between August and October 2020. These cards, issued by California, Arizona, and Nevada, were loaded with benefits meant for real people.
“None of the cards belonged to the members of the conspiracy — they were all in the names of real individuals,” the US Department of Justice said.
The fraud was coordinated with other suspects outside the US. They used stolen personal data to file fake unemployment claims with state agencies.
Out of the 168 stolen cards, 98 were used to withdraw cash from ATMs in Indianapolis. The trio made 529 withdrawals in total, stealing $520,910.
“They often made multiple withdrawals within the span of just a few minutes,” the statement added.
The funds came from emergency programs like the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, created to support Americans during the COVID-19 crisis.
Sentencing and Deportation
Kamaldeen Karaole, 24, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and conspiracy. He got four years and three months in prison, plus two years of supervised release.
Stephen Olamigoke, 23, was sentenced to two and a half years. He also agreed to be deported to Nigeria after serving his term.
Johnson Omodusonu, 24, received two years in prison and two years of supervised release.
“Each defendant was also ordered to pay $520,910 in restitution,” the court ruled.
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