A Nigerian national, Yomi Jones Olayeye, also known as “Sabbie,” was arrested in New York on August 13, 2024, for his alleged involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits. Olayeye, 40, was apprehended at John F. Kennedy International Airport and is facing multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly used stolen personal information to apply for pandemic-related unemployment benefits from various states between March and July 2020. The group also opened fraudulent bank accounts and used Bitcoin to launder the funds, disguising their activities by using U.S.-based IP addresses. Olayeye is set to appear in federal court in Boston on August 20.
The alleged scheme targeted unemployment programs in several states, including Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Washington. While they applied for $10 million in benefits, they successfully obtained over $1.5 million. If convicted, Olayeye faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and an additional mandatory two years for identity theft. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston.