Crime
Nigerian Man Arrested at JFK for Alleged $10 Million COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme
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.
According to Nivo News, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomed 5,000 new members in Abia State on Saturday, following the recent entry of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into the party.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The mass defection was led by Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Accord Party, in his hometown of Umuaku, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area. Supporters who joined him also left their former political affiliations, including the South East Mandate for Good Governance, to align with the ADC.
Nwankpa explained that his decision to join the ADC was driven by a strong conviction, noting that the party’s manifesto resonates with his political philosophy, emphasizing people-oriented governance, social justice, and sustainable development. He described the ADC as a credible, progressive platform capable of fostering inclusive governance and rebuilding public trust in Nigerian politics.
The Abia State Chairman of the ADC, Don Norman Obinna, formally welcomed Nwankpa and his followers, stating that the country’s political trajectory is increasingly favoring the ADC.
The Abia State Police Command has reported the arrest of 809 suspects and the recovery of 88 firearms in 438 cases across the state from January 2025 to date.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa provided the update on Friday during a briefing at his office, outlining the operational strategies and achievements of the Command during the period under review. He disclosed that 435 rounds of ammunition were recovered from suspected criminals and that over 200 suspects have been successfully prosecuted, with several jailed for various offenses.
The CP further revealed that 33 children who had been kidnapped or trafficked were rescued within and outside the state, with the suspects involved prosecuted and some already imprisoned. “We have sent a lot of people to jail. A clear message has been passed that it is no longer business as usual for criminals in Abia State,” Isa stated.
He highlighted that the state’s crime rate has declined under his leadership, attributing the success to support from Governor Alex Otti, provision of logistics, and collaboration with community stakeholders. Isa also noted that officers encountered non-state actors on several occasions, who were neutralized and disarmed.
The Police Commissioner urged residents to continue providing credible information on suspicious activities to further strengthen the fight against crime. Firearms and other weapons recovered from suspects were displayed at the Police headquarters in Umuahia for the media.
According to Nivo News, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) has arrested high-profile cybercrime suspects linked to a sophisticated Microsoft 365 phishing operation that targeted the email systems of major corporate organisations.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The arrests followed actionable intelligence received from Microsoft Corporation in the United States through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which exposed the deployment of an advanced phishing toolkit known as RaccoonO365. The toolkit was designed to create counterfeit Microsoft login pages capable of harvesting user credentials and unlawfully accessing corporate, financial, and educational email platforms.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the cybercrime centre launched a coordinated, intelligence-led operation in partnership with Microsoft, the FBI, and the United States Secret Service. He explained that investigations traced multiple cases of unauthorised Microsoft 365 account access recorded between January and September 2025 to phishing emails crafted to closely mimic legitimate Microsoft authentication portals.
According to police findings, the cyberattacks resulted in business email compromise, data breaches, and significant financial losses across several jurisdictions. Acting on precise intelligence, NPF–NCCC operatives conducted targeted operations in Lagos and Edo states, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Searches carried out at their residences yielded laptops, mobile phones, and other digital devices, which forensic analysis directly linked to the fraudulent activities.
Further investigations identified Okitipi Samuel, also known by the aliases “RaccoonO365” and “Moses Felix,” as the principal suspect and alleged developer of the phishing infrastructure. Police said he operated a Telegram channel through which phishing links were sold in exchange for cryptocurrency and hosted fake login portals on Cloudflare using stolen or fraudulently obtained email credentials.
The police clarified that there was no evidence connecting the two other arrested individuals to the creation or management of the phishing scheme. The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to protecting the country’s digital environment through the use of advanced technology, enhanced international cooperation, and thorough investigative and prosecutorial processes aimed at combating evolving cyber threats.
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