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Nigerian Man Arrested at JFK for Alleged $10 Million COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme

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Nigerian Man Arrested at JFK for Alleged $10 Million COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Yomi Jones Olayeye, also known as “Sabbie,” was apprehended on August 13, 2024, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. His arrest marks a significant step in the federal investigation into an alleged scheme that fraudulently obtained at least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.

Olayeye faces serious charges, including one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Federal authorities allege that Olayeye, along with his co-conspirators, exploited the emergency benefits programs intended to provide financial relief to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. By using stolen identities, they are accused of filing false unemployment claims and siphoning millions from government funds.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy provided details on the case, noting that Olayeye made his initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York on August 14, 2024. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston to face these charges.

The charging document outlines that between March and July 2020, Olayeye and his associates defrauded three pandemic assistance programs administered by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, as well as other states’ unemployment insurance agencies. These programs included traditional unemployment insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).

The conspiracy allegedly involved purchasing personally identifiable information (PII) from criminal internet forums. Olayeye and his co-conspirators used this information to file fraudulent applications for UI, PUA, and FPUC, falsely representing themselves as eligible state residents affected by the pandemic. They then allegedly opened U.S. bank and prepaid debit card accounts to receive the illicit assistance payments.

Levy further explained that the group also recruited U.S.-based account holders to receive and transfer the fraud proceeds via cash transfer apps. The fraudulent proceeds were reportedly used to purchase Bitcoin through online marketplaces, and efforts were made to conceal the conspiracy’s ties to Nigeria by leasing U.S.-based Internet Protocol addresses for use in these transactions.

In total, Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly applied for at least $10 million in fraudulent unemployment benefits from several states, including Massachusetts, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and others. Of this, they received more than $1.5 million in benefits to which they were not entitled.

The potential penalties Olayeye faces are severe. The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Additionally, the aggravated identity theft charge includes a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to any sentence for wire fraud.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit. The investigation and prosecution are part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was established on May 17, 2021, to combat pandemic-related fraud.

Levy emphasized that while the charges are serious, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Woman poisons Her Co-wife’s Two Children In Niger State, One Passes Away

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The Niger State Police Command has arrested a woman identified as Mariya Abdullahi over the alleged poisoning of her co-wife’s two children.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The incident reportedly occurred on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Takuti community, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.

The victims, aged four and nine, were said to have consumed a substance suspected to be poisonous from a cup allegedly given to them by Abdullahi.

One of the children reportedly died shortly after drinking the substance, while the other was rushed to a general hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to Abiodun, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime, claiming that a friend influenced her to poison the children because she could not have a child for her husband.

The police statement read: “On 6th November, 2026 at about 6am, a report was received in Lapai Div that one Mariya Abdullahi of Takuti via Lapai administered some substance suspected to be poison to the children of her co-wife.

“The Police operatives moved to the scene, discovered the two children who were 9 & 4yrs, were given the substance to drink, and as a result, they became unconscious.

“They were immediately rushed to a nearby clinic, but on arrival at the clinic, one of the victims gave up the ghost and the other was referred to the general hospital responding to the treatment.

“The suspect was arrested, undergoing further interrogation. She claimed that she was influenced by a friend to commit the act because she couldn’t bear a child for the husband.

“She will soon be transferred to SCID Minna for diligent prosecution.”

The command added that Abdullahi would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.

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‘Please Forgive Us’ – Suspects in Corps Members’ Abduction Plead For Mercy.

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Two men standing trial over the abduction of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State have admitted that they voluntarily made the written and recorded confessional statements presented by the Department of State Services (DSS).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The defendants, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, who are the first and second accused persons, made the admission on Thursday during cross-examination at the resumed hearing of the case.

Both men confirmed that they willingly gave the audio-visual statements and thumbprinted the written confessions in the presence of their lawyers.

The DSS had tendered the statements as evidence, and the court admitted them during the proceedings.

Despite confirming the statements, the defendants appealed to the court for forgiveness and asked to be released. They had earlier made a similar plea while opening their defence and giving evidence on their own behalf.

The two men are facing charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms over the alleged abduction.

Meanwhile, proceedings also continued in a separate case involving two defendants accused of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

During the hearing, a prosecution witness identified the defendants as the individuals who allegedly abducted him for ransom in Imo State on October 4, 2026.

At the end of Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Emeka Orafu adjourned both cases until November 6 for further hearing.

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BREAKING: FBI Nabs Six Most-Wanted Fraud Suspects In Major International Crackdown.

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The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested six individuals on its most-wanted fraudsters list following operations conducted across four continents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The suspects were apprehended over allegations involving various fraudulent activities, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, who announced the development in a post on X on Sunday.

Patel disclosed that the arrests, alongside other enforcement operations, contributed to the seizure of assets worth approximately $17 billion.

He praised the FBI’s international fugitive-tracking efforts and its ongoing campaign against global scam centres, known as Operation Blackout.

According to the FBI director, the six fugitives had collectively spent more than 4,000 days evading arrest.

Patel said the suspects had apparently believed that leaving the United States and going into hiding abroad would place them beyond the reach of American law enforcement authorities.

“They were wrong,” he wrote, stressing that the FBI and its international partners would continue pursuing individuals accused of defrauding Americans, regardless of where they attempted to hide.

In a separate update on Operation Blackout, Patel revealed that the broader campaign had resulted in the seizure of nearly $17 billion, the arrest of hundreds of suspected fraudsters and the rescue of thousands of trafficked workers.

The operation has also involved raids on suspected scam centres, the disruption of online infrastructure used to facilitate fraudulent activities and efforts to identify individuals trafficked into working for criminal networks.

Patel further disclosed that more than 10,000 Americans had received warnings before losing their money, helping to prevent estimated financial losses of about $670 million.

“We’re not just investigating these criminal enterprises.

“We’re dismantling their networks, disrupting their finances, rescuing victims, and holding those responsible accountable,” he said.

The FBI director described the scam centres as criminal enterprises that exploit vulnerable individuals while targeting Americans through international fraud schemes.

He maintained that the agency would continue its efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

“To every criminal organization targeting Americans: Justice will find you,” Patel added.

Full List Of The Six Arrested Suspects

According to the FBI, the individuals arrested are:

  1. Manjit Singh Bedi
  2. Elaine Agene Esco
  3. Khalid Ahmed Satary
  4. Herbert Leon Kimble
  5. Sahid Abdullahi Ereg
  6. Emylee Thai
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