Yomi Olayeye, a 40-year-old Nigerian man, has been apprehended and charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft for his alleged role in a large-scale pandemic unemployment assistance fraud scheme in the United States.
Olayeye, also known as “Sabbie,” was arrested on August 13, 2024, upon his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, for conspiring to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
“According to the charging document, between March and July 2020, Olayeye and others defrauded three pandemic assistance programs administrated by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and other states’ unemployment insurance agencies: traditional unemployment insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).”
He faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, carrying penalties 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.
Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly used stolen personal information to apply for unemployment benefits in multiple states, including Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Indiana, receiving over $1.5 million in assistance to which they were not entitled.
The statement added, “In total, Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly applied for at least $10 million in fraudulent UI, PUA and FPUC from Massachusetts, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Montana, Maine, Ohio and Washington and received more than $1.5 million in assistance to which they were not entitled.
The statement further states, ”The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, fforfeiture,and restitution.
“The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to be added to any sentence imposed on the wire fraud charge.
“Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, in partnership with the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, investigated and prosecuted the case, highlighting the government’s commitment to combating pandemic-related fraud.
