In September, U.S. authorities arrested and arraigned Femi Quadri, a 43-year-old Nigerian socialite, for allegedly orchestrating a large-scale COVID-19 fraud and identity theft scheme.
He was accused of stealing the personal information of 91 U.S. citizens to siphon off disability and COVID-19 unemployment benefits. Quadri was apprehended on September 20, just hours before boarding a one-way flight to Dubai, where investigators believed he planned to evade capture.
A criminal complaint filed on September 19 at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California detailed Quadri’s use of stolen Social Security Numbers (SSNs) to fraudulently apply for benefits through the California Employment Development Department (EDD).
He falsified certifications from real doctors, whose information he also stole, allowing him to apply for benefits under the victims’ names. EDD debit cards loaded with benefits were mailed to claimants, and Quadri would activate them using the victims’ personal details.
Investigations revealed that Quadri defrauded 19 disabled Americans of over $200,000 in disability insurance and an additional $881,192 through fraudulent unemployment claims using the identities of 72 other individuals.
Bank of America surveillance footage showed him making numerous withdrawals using different EDD debit cards. Investigators were able to match his appearance with images from his social media, confirming his involvement in the fraudulent transactions.
One of Quadri’s co-conspirators, Roland Iwhiwhu Otega, fled to Nigeria after a search of his apartment revealed incriminating evidence linking him to the scam. Quadri and Otega shared victims, and investigators believe the two worked together to steal millions from U.S. government programs.
Quadri’s involvement in identity theft and fraud was further confirmed when investigators contacted victims like Michelle Davey, who confirmed they had never applied for benefits in their names.
Investigators also traced more than $500,000 wired by Quadri to several Chinese companies, suggesting possible money laundering activities.
Given the scale of the fraud and the involvement of international networks, U.S. authorities are continuing to probe the full extent of his criminal activities.
With no family ties in the U.S. and property ownership in Nigeria, authorities fear Quadri’s potential flight risk.
His crimes, which amount to over $1 million in stolen funds, classify as aggravated felonies, which could lead to severe penalties, including deportation after his conviction. His co-conspirator, Otega, remains at large.
Quadri is currently being held by the U.S. Marshal Service and is expected to appear before a federal judge on October 29. He faces charges of aggravated identity theft, bank fraud, and wire fraud, and is likely to receive a lengthy prison sentence before his deportation
