US Declares Nigerian Wanted For $30M COVID-19 Fraud
Category: Crime News
A Nigerian, Chidozie Collins Obasi is wanted by the United States government for defrauding its citizens between 2018 and 2020.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said he’s charged with one count of
conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, six counts of mail fraud, and 16
counts of wire fraud.
The scam targeted Americans through a spam
email campaign offering “work from home” jobs. During COVID-19, it shifted to
targeting U.S. hospitals and medical systems, offering non-existent
ventilators for sale.
READ: Interpol Uncovers €500,000 Covid-19 Fraud in Nigeria
The fraud shifted again to using the stolen
identity information of American citizens to apply for and obtain Economic
Injury Disaster Loans (“EID Loans”).
The authorities say Obasi
perpetrated the fraud from Nigeria, with the help of co-conspirators in Canada
and other countries.
The defendant and others are alleged to have
obtained over $31 million; more than $30 million were gotten from the State of
New York for the intended purchase of ventilators.
READ: U.S. Charges Nigerian Adedayo Ilori With $7.5M COVID-19 Fraud
In the fraud
which began in September 2018, Obasi or a co-conspirator posed as a
representative of a company and offered a job as the company’s U.S.
representative with responsibilities of collecting outstanding invoices.
In March 2020, when ventilators were in high demand, Obasi posed
as a representative of an Indonesian-based medical supply company offering
ventilators for sale.
The defendant allegedly convinced a medical
equipment broker in the U.S. to negotiate non-existent ventilators; more than
$30 million were wired from the State of New York to them for the supposed
purchase.
READ: Every Government Should Wakeup and Question The Fraud Called COVID-19- Pastor Chris
In June 2020, Obasi and his co-conspirators took
advantage of the EID Loan program by using stolen identities of U.S. citizens
to apply for and obtain more than $135,000 in EID Loan proceeds.
The Department of Justice declared the Nigerian a fugitive and
urged anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact their local FBI
Office.
Obasi faces a maximum sentence of 621 years in prison,
five years of supervised release, and a $5,750,000 fine.
READ: Health Minister Arrested Over $60M COVID-19 Fraud
The
defendant will be required to make full restitution of the more than $31
million. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Michael S. Lowe.
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