A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Yomi Jones Olayeye, also known as Sabbie, was arrested at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on August 13, 2024. According to report, Olayeye faces multiple charges for allegedly conspiring to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
Federal authorities accuse Olayeye and his co-conspirators of using stolen identities to file false unemployment claims during the pandemic, exploiting emergency benefits programs. They allegedly opened U.S. bank accounts and recruited account holders to receive the fraudulent funds, which were then converted to Bitcoin.
Olayeye has been charged with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. He made an initial court appearance in New York on August 14 and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Meanwhile, Olayeye remains innocent until proven guilty in court.
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