In September, U.S. authorities arrested 43-year-old Femi Quadri, a Nigerian socialite, for allegedly stealing the identities of approximately 91 American citizens to defraud them of their COVID-19 and disability benefits.
He was apprehended at around 9:30 a.m. on September 20, just hours before he was set to depart on a one-way ticket to Dubai. U.S. security agents believed he intended to evade capture by relocating to a destination beyond America’s crime radar.
A criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on September 19 outlined Mr. Quadri’s alleged fraudulent scheme. It detailed how he appropriated the personal identifying information (PII), including Social Security Numbers (SSNs), of around 91 Americans to collect their disability, unemployment, and COVID-19 benefits between 2020 and 2024.
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) issued debit cards to eligible unemployed and disabled citizens. Mr. Quadri submitted benefit applications using their names and forged certifications from real doctors, whose information he had also stolen.
The EDD sent loaded debit cards, allowing unlimited withdrawals, to claimants. Each card featured a sticker with activation instructions, requiring recipients to call a number and provide their SSN for activation.
The cards, valid for three years, were linked to Bank of America and funded by the EDD for beneficiaries, allowing for unlimited daily purchases and withdrawals.
An EDD investigator discovered that Mr. Quadri had defrauded 19 disabled Americans, embezzling over $200,000 using their stolen identities.
“EDD Investigator Ivant Romo reviewed approximately 19 Disability Insurance (DI) claims filed online under different identities, totaling an actual loss of around $210,156 and a potential loss of approximately $436,488,” stated the criminal complaint.
Mr. Romo noted similarities among the claimants’ reported occupations, raising suspicions.
Having examined 72 Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims, the investigator determined that Mr. Quadri had scammed the U.S. government of $881,192 using the stolen identities of 72 unemployed Americans.
Surveillance footage confirmed Mr. Quadri was the individual withdrawing cash using the debit cards linked to different EDD beneficiaries.
Bank of America provided evidence showing Mr. Quadri withdrew funds “under different accounts for various individuals.”
Investigators noted discrepancies between the images of the debit card recipients and the person withdrawing the funds.
Mr. Romo identified Mr. Quadri as the individual extracting EDD funds from at least 38 accounts, including those of Michelle Davey, Ronald Tung, and Douglas Cost.
Pictures from Mr. Quadri’s social media accounts revealed him wearing the same clothing he used during the fraudulent withdrawals.
Mr. Romo observed Mr. Quadri on the streets, recognizing him as the person “conducting numerous fraudulent withdrawals.”
Doctor Lai, a medical practitioner who allegedly certified some of Mr. Quadri’s fraudulent documents, informed investigators that he had never authorized any claims bearing his signature.
Mr. Romo spoke with Ms. Davey, one of the scam’s victims, who claimed she had never applied for disability benefits, despite Mr. Quadri having collected $7,366 in her name. She noted that he correctly obtained her date of birth and SSN.
Mr. Quadri withdrew $19,500 under Mr. Cost’s name. The victim reported that he had never filed for unemployment insurance and hadn’t authorized anyone to do so on his behalf.
The U.S. government identified Roland Iwhiwhu Otega as Mr. Quadri’s accomplice. However, after investigators searched Otega’s apartment in August 2023, he fled the U.S. on a flight to Lagos, Nigeria.
Incriminating evidence related to identity theft was discovered in his apartment, and investigators established a connection between him and Mr. Quadri through at least one shared victim, Rosaly Ferrer.
Mr. Quadri’s bank records with JP Morgan revealed he wired over $500,000 to four Chinese companies: Prinx Chengshan Shandong Tire Co Ltd (Agricultural Bank of China), Eping City Hengxin Trading Co Ltd (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China), Prachi Exports (Yes Bank Ltd), and Shouguang Firemax Tyre Co Ltd (Jinan Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd).
As a permanent resident and not a U.S. citizen, Mr. Quadri will be deported once convicted.
Since he had no family in the United States and had purchased property in Nigeria, authorities worried that his chances of fleeing were extremely high, especially since his co-conspirator had already absconded.
That the scam exceeded $10,000 will cause his offence to be considered an aggravated felony, which attracts stiff penalties that include the loss of his immigration status.
He was currently being remanded by the U.S. Marshal Service and would remain there until October 29, when he was scheduled to be arraigned before Judge Jean P. Rosenbluth on October 29.
Mr Quadri’s charges bordered on aggravated identity theft and bank and wire fraud.
