Joseph Osei, also known as "Kynjo," a 30-year-old Canadian citizen formerly residing in Albany, was found guilty by a jury of multiple fraud charges. The conviction came after a five-day trial where the jury deliberated for less than two hours before delivering a unanimous verdict. Osei faced four counts of mail fraud, one count of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft related to COVID-19 pandemic unemployment insurance benefits obtained through stolen identities.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III alongside Ketty Larco-Ward from the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Erin Keegan from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Jonathan Mellone from the United States Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
Evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that between August 2020 and November 2020, Osei unlawfully acquired over $100,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from New York State's Department of Labor. He also targeted workforce agencies in California, Rhode Island, and Arizona using similar fraudulent methods.
U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III remarked on the case: “Joseph Osei stole real people’s identities to illegally exploit lifeline programs set up to help Americans during the pandemic." He noted that this conviction is part of over 45 similar cases prosecuted by his office.
Ketty Larco-Ward emphasized the impact on victims: “The actions of the defendant not only diverted funds from those in need but also victimized unsuspecting people by stealing their personal identifying information."
Erin Keegan highlighted HSI's commitment: “HSI Albany is proud to have played a role in ensuring Joseph Osei faces the consequences of his egregious crimes."
Osei is scheduled for sentencing on September 23, 2025. Mail fraud convictions can lead to up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. Access device fraud carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment while aggravated identity theft includes a mandatory consecutive two-year term.
The investigation involved USPIS, HSI, USDOL-OIG with support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office and New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations. The prosecution team consists of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
