A Nigerian national based in France, Newton Ofioritse Jemide, has been handed a prison sentence of three years and five months by a United States court over his role in an $8 million disaster relief fraud scheme.
The sentencing was delivered on Tuesday by Judge Deborah K. Chasanow of a U.S. District Court.
Earlier, in a report dated March 6, PUNCH Metro revealed that Jemide, aged 47, had been extradited from France after being found guilty of illegally acquiring federal funds meant for disaster-affected American citizens.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Jemide conspired with others to steal identities of U.S. residents to open Green Dot accounts used to claim disaster relief payments intended for wildfire victims between 2016 and 2017.
The department explained that Jemide and his co-conspirators in Nigeria directed partners in the U.S. to buy hundreds of Green Dot debit cards.
It stated, “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 avoid detection, the group used various tactics to disguise their identities, such as employing third parties to carry out purchases and withdrawals at different store and banking locations, and issuing money orders under other people’s names or companies.
Providing an update on the proceedings, the Department of Justice in a statement released Wednesday on its website said, “FEMA dispersed $500 per claim on the Green Dot debit cards that the co-conspirators purchased for a total of at least $8 million.”
Following his admission of guilt, Jemide received a sentence of 41 months in prison along with three years of supervised release.
In addition, the court mandated him to repay $520,431 in restitution and also forfeit $311,036 to the U.S. government.
The DOJ confirmed, “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.”
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