Nigerian Man Sentenced to 11 Years in US for $1.3 Million COVID-19 Scam
A 43-year-old Nigerian man, Abiola Quadri, has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison in the United States for orchestrating a massive $1.3 million COVID-19 scam. Quadri was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 135 months in prison by a U.S. court. He was also ordered to pay $1,356,229 in restitution and a $35,000 fine.
According to authorities, Quadri used stolen identities to claim COVID-19 unemployment and disability benefits. He submitted hundreds of fraudulent benefit applications and withdrew stolen funds from multiple ATMs across California. Quadri wired at least $500,000 abroad to fund a luxury resort project in Nigeria, which included a nightclub, shopping mall, and 120-room hotel.
Quadri was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport in September 2024 while attempting to flee to Nigeria. Authorities found 17 counterfeit checks worth over $3.3 million on his phone, as well as text messages negotiating fake transactions. Quadri also ran a business in California under the name Rock of Peace, which was allegedly used to provide daycare services to developmentally disabled children.
The investigation revealed that Quadri had misused food-aid debit cards and had links to shell businesses under various aliases. He had also admitted to obtaining U.S. permanent residency through a sham marriage.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and California’s Employment Development Department. Quadri’s conviction and sentencing bring an end to a complex and extensive COVID-19 benefits scam that exploited vulnerable individuals and drained public resources.
