A Nigerian residing in France, Newton Ofioritse Jemide, has been handed a sentence of three years and five months in a U.S. federal prison for his role in an $8 million disaster relief fraud scheme.
The sentencing, which took place on Tuesday, was delivered by Judge Deborah K. Chasanow at the United States District Court.
Jemide, aged 47, was extradited from France following a U.S. investigation that linked him to a scheme involving fraudulent claims for federal disaster assistance meant for vulnerable Americans.
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According to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), Jemide and his accomplices stole personal information from U.S. citizens and used it to open Green Dot accounts. These accounts were then used to apply for federal benefits, including aid disbursed in response to wildfires in 2016 and 2017.
The DoJ revealed that the conspiracy spanned both the United States and Nigeria, with Jemide and others in Nigeria coordinating the fraud. They instructed co-conspirators in the U.S. to acquire hundreds of Green Dot debit cards.
It added, “Co-conspirators living in Nigeria then registered the cards with Green Dot using stolen personal information from identity theft victims around the United States.
“As a result of fraudulent submissions, FEMA and the other federal agencies deposited benefits onto the Green Dot debit cards.
“Jemide and select co-conspirators informed other co-conspirators when the fraudulent funds became available on the debit cards and gave them information to cash out the funds from the cards in exchange for a commission.”
To obscure their tracks, the group engaged in tactics designed to conceal their identities. These included directing others to conduct withdrawals and purchases, using various bank and retail locations, and processing money orders in the names of individuals and businesses not directly tied to them.
The Department of Justice further stated in an update published on its website that “FEMA dispersed $500 per claim on the Green Dot debit cards that the co-conspirators purchased for a total of at least $8 million.”
After pleading guilty, Jemide received a sentence of 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition to his prison term, the court ordered him to make restitution payments totaling $520,431.
He was also directed to forfeit $311,036 to the U.S. government.
“US District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Newton Ofioritse Jemide, 47, a Nigerian national extradited from France, to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits.
“Jemide will also serve three years of supervised release, and pay $520,431.83 of restitution, and a forfeiture money judgment was entered against him in the amount of $311,036.64,” the statement concluded.
