A United States court has sentenced a Nigerian man, Abiola Quadri, to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for stealing over $1.3 million through fake unemployment and disability claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 43-year-old, a permanent resident of Pasadena, California, used stolen identities to submit hundreds of fraudulent applications, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement on Instagram on Wednesday.
“We’re proud that our special agents’ hard work paid off and Quadri will face justice for his crimes,” ICE stated.
Quadri was arrested in September 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport while attempting to leave for Nigeria.
Investigators said he spent the stolen money on building a 120-room resort in Nigeria called Oyins International, which includes a nightclub, shopping mall, and other luxury amenities.
“He secretly sent over $500,000 abroad to fund the hotel construction and failed to mention it during his financial disclosures in court,” the agency added.
Authorities also found 17 fake checks worth over $3.3 million on his phone, along with chats where he discussed the deals. Some of the checks were tied to fake businesses using different names.
He was also accused of misusing his Altadena-based business, Rock of Peace, which was meant to provide daycare for children with developmental disabilities in California. Food-aid debit cards were found in his home during a search.
Court documents revealed that Quadri obtained permanent residency through what he admitted was a “fake wedding.” He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on January 2, 2025.
On July 10, Judge George H. Wu of the United States District Court in Los Angeles sentenced him to 135 months in prison, and ordered him to pay back $1,356,229, along with a $35,000 fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Employment Development Department Investigation Division worked together on the case.
“The Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case,” ICE explained.
