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Nigerian Sentenced for Pandemic Relief Fraud: A Case Study in Wire Fraud and Identity Theft

Overview of the Case

On January 28, 2025, a Canadian resident and Nigerian national, Fatiu Ismaila Lawal, 46, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for his role in a large-scale pandemic relief fraud scheme. Lawal pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after being extradited from Canada in July 2024. His sentence follows that of his co-conspirator, Sakiru Olanrewaju Ambali, who received 42 months in prison in March 2024. DOJ Press Release

The case highlights the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to prosecute pandemic-related fraud, as well as the challenges in defending complex financial crime cases involving international defendants, identity theft, and federal fraud statutes.

Legal Allegations and Charges

According to court records, Lawal and Ambali engaged in a multi-year fraud scheme, using stolen identities to submit over 1,700 fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits in 25 states, including Washington, New York, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, and California.

The fraudulent claims sought approximately $25 million, with the conspirators successfully obtaining around $2.7 million. Lawal personally admitted to filing 790 fraudulent unemployment claims, securing $1,345,472 in pandemic relief funds.

In addition to unemployment fraud, authorities alleged that:

  • Between 2018 and 2022, Lawal filed 3,000 fraudulent tax returns, seeking $7.5 million in IRS refunds. Due to fraud detection measures, the IRS paid only $30,000 in improper refunds.

  • Lawal and Ambali attempted to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA)through Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications. Out of 38 applications submitted, only $2,500 was disbursed before authorities intervened.

  • The defendants were charged with using stolen identities to open bank accounts, funnel money through “money mules,” and establish fraudulent websites and email accounts to facilitate their scheme.

Lawal was ultimately ordered to pay restitution of $1,345,472.

 
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