A Nigerian socialite, Femi Quadri (43), was arrested in September by U.S. authorities for allegedly stealing the identities of 91 American citizens to defraud them of COVID-19 and disability benefits. Quadri was apprehended just hours before his scheduled flight to Dubai, where he intended to evade U.S. law enforcement.
According to a criminal complaint filed in California, Quadri obtained the personal information of his victims, including Social Security numbers, to file fraudulent claims for unemployment, disability, and COVID-19 benefits between 2020 and 2024.
He used stolen medical certifications to support his false claims.
Quadri’s scheme involved exploiting the California Employment Development Department’s (EDD) program of issuing debit cards to eligible citizens.
By using stolen identities, he obtained these cards and withdrew funds from them without authorization. Investigators found that Quadri defrauded 19 disabled individuals of over $200,000 and 72 unemployed individuals of nearly $881,000.
Surveillance footage from Bank of America showed Quadri using the stolen debit cards to withdraw funds under different names. Witnesses also identified him as the individual conducting these fraudulent transactions.
Quadri’s accomplice, Roland Iwhiwhu Otega, fled the U.S. after authorities searched his apartment and found evidence of identity theft. Otega had also defrauded victims using stolen identities.
In addition to the stolen funds, investigators discovered that Quadri had wired over $500,000 to Chinese companies.
Due to the extent of his crimes, Quadri faces deportation from the U.S. and potential imprisonment. He is currently awaiting arraignment on charges of aggravated identity theft, bank fraud, and wire fraud.
