A Nigerian man, Yomi Jones Olayeye, also known as “Sabbie,” has been arrested in the United States for his alleged role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Olayeye and his co-conspirators used stolen personal information to apply for unemployment benefits across multiple states.
The funds were then funneled through U.S. bank accounts and converted to Bitcoin. Olayeye was arrested upon arrival at JFK International Airport and now faces charges including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, which could result in up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
