Nigerian Man Sentenced to 11+ Years for $1.3 Million COVID-19 Unemployment and Disability Fraud

A Nigerian national residing in the San Gabriel Valley has been sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for fraud. He fraudulently obtained more than $1.3 million in COVID-19 unemployment and disability insurance benefits from California and Nevada.

Sentence, Restitution, and Fine

United States District Judge George H. Wu sentenced Abiola Femi Quadri, 43, of Pasadena, to 135 months’ imprisonment, ordered him to pay $1,356,229 in restitution, and imposed a $35,000 fine, according to court records.

Quadri however pleaded guilty on January 2 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

How the Scheme Worked

Prosecutors said Quadri filed more than 100 fraudulent applications using stolen identities to secure pandemic-era unemployment and disability benefits. He then withdrew the funds at ATMs and sent at least $500,000 abroad.

Court filings state that Quadri used proceeds to finance construction of a 120-room resort hotel in Nigeria—the Oyins International—which includes a nightclub, a mall, and other high-end amenities. He did not disclose his ownership of the hotel in his financial disclosure to the court.

“Fake Wedding” for U.S. Residency

According to messages cited in court documents, Quadri said he obtained U.S. permanent residency through a “fake wedding.”

Investigators recovered images of 17 counterfeit checks totaling more than $3.3 million on Quadri’s phone, along with messages discussing prices and negotiations for the checks. Some were made payable to shell companies tied to Quadri’s aliases.

Additional Findings: Public Funds and Misused Benefits

Authorities also determined that the State of California paid Quadri for daycare services for developmentally disabled children through his Altadena-based company, Rock of Peace. A search of his residence uncovered misappropriated food-aid debit cards belonging to those children.

Quadri was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport, where he was scheduled to fly to Nigeria.

Agencies Involved

The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI), and the California Employment Development Department Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section.

MMI