by Samuel Godwin
In September, U.S. authorities arrested 43-year-old Femi Quadri, a Nigerian socialite, for allegedly stealing the identities of approximately 91 American citizens to defraud them of their COVID-19 and disability benefits.
He was apprehended at around 9:30 a.m. on September 20, just hours before he was set to depart on a one-way ticket to Dubai. U.S. security agents believed he intended to evade capture by relocating to a destination beyond America’s crime radar.
A criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on September 19 outlined Mr. Quadri’s alleged fraudulent scheme. It detailed how he appropriated the personal identifying information (PII), including Social Security Numbers (SSNs), of around 91 Americans to collect their disability, unemployment, and COVID-19 benefits between 2020 and 2024.
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) issued debit cards to eligible unemployed and disabled citizens. Mr. Quadri submitted benefit applications using their names and forged certifications from real doctors, whose information he had also stolen.
The EDD sent loaded debit cards, allowing unlimited withdrawals, to claimants. Each card featured a sticker with activation instructions, requiring recipients to call a number and provide their SSN for activation.
The cards, valid for three years, were linked to Bank of America and funded by the EDD for beneficiaries, allowing for unlimited daily purchases and withdrawals.
As a permanent resident and not a U.S. citizen, Mr. Quadri will be deported once convicted.
Since he had no family in the United States and had purchased property in Nigeria, authorities worried that his chances of fleeing were extremely high, especially since his co-conspirator had already absconded.
That the scam exceeded $10,000 will cause his offence to be considered an aggravated felony, which attracts stiff penalties that include the loss of his immigration status.
He was currently being remanded by the U.S. Marshal Service and would remain there until October 29, when he was scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Jean P. Rosenbluth on October 29.
Mr Quadri’s charges bordered on aggravated identity theft and bank and wire fraud.
