Today, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Newton Ofioritse Jemide, a 47-year-old Nigerian national extradited from France, to 41 months in federal prison for his involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. In addition to the prison term, Jemide will serve three years of supervised release and is ordered to pay $520,431.83 in restitution. A forfeiture money judgment was also entered against him for $311,036.64.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Acting Special Agent in Charge Colleen Lawlor from the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General – Philadelphia Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge William McCool from the U.S. Secret Service – Washington Field Office.
The conspiracy involved fraudulent claims for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) benefits intended for victims affected by national emergency disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. Victims could receive Critical Needs Assistance (CNA) through various means including pre-paid debit cards.
According to Jemide's guilty plea, between 2016 and 2017 he directed co-conspirators in the United States to purchase Green Dot Debit Cards which were then registered with stolen personal information by associates in Nigeria. Using encrypted messaging applications among other methods of communication, they coordinated their activities.
In 2017 following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and California wildfires, Jemide and others used stolen identities to apply online for FEMA and CNA benefits resulting in at least $8 million being dispersed onto these debit cards.
Beyond FEMA claims, false submissions were made for Social Security benefits and IRS tax refunds using multiple stolen identities across different platforms leading agencies like FEMA to deposit funds onto these cards under false pretenses.
Jemide's group informed each other when funds became available on these cards facilitating cash-outs through commissions while taking measures such as enlisting others or using various locations/methods to obscure their tracks during transactions.
U.S Attorney Hayes commended DHS OIG along with SSA OIG & USSS teams' investigative efforts thanking Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs plus U.S Marshals Service aiding Jemide’s extradition back stateside further acknowledging Assistant U.S Attorneys Elizabeth Wright & Darren Gardner prosecuting this case federally.
For additional details regarding Maryland U.S Attorney’s Office operations/resources including fraud reporting avenues visit justice.gov/usao-md or justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud
