A Nigerian national who orchestrated a large-scale fraud scheme that siphoned millions in U.S. emergency disaster assistance has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison. Residents across the country who depend on timely federal support during natural disasters may face more scrutiny and delays in aid processing due to such fraud cases.
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Newton Ofioritse Jemide, 47, was extradited from France to face charges in Maryland, where he was sentenced to 41 months in prison. In addition to his prison term, he must serve three years of supervised release, pay over $520,000 in restitution, and forfeit more than $311,000. Jemide committed the crimes while residing in Nigeria, working with others abroad and in the United States to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies.
The conspiracy took place during 2016 and 2017 and intensified after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as the California wildfires in 2017. Jemide and co-conspirators used stolen identities to apply online for FEMA’s Critical Needs Assistance and other benefits, which provided $500 per claim to help victims purchase life-saving essentials. Fraudulent claims were routed to prepaid Green Dot debit cards, netting the conspirators at least $8 million.
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The scheme also extended to false claims for Social Security benefits, IRS tax refunds, and other government programs, all filed under stolen identities. Jemide coordinated the purchase and registration of hundreds of debit cards using stolen personal information and oversaw a network that notified others when the fraudulent funds were available. The network then withdrew the money through various methods, masking the origins and beneficiaries of the funds.
The successful prosecution involved coordination among multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service. Authorities also credited international partners with assisting in Jemide’s extradition.
Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
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