Nigerian man Newton Ofioritse Jemide was extradited to the U.S. from France on charges related to a scam that stole over $8 million in federal assistance meant for disaster victims. He was indicted in 2019 for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a scheme that involved stealing identities to open Green Dot debit cards and apply for assistance. The Justice Department stated that FEMA paid at least $8 million to these cards.
Jemide could face up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering and 30 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors mentioned that he and his accomplices also applied for Social Security benefits and IRS tax refunds using stolen identities. The scheme lasted nearly two years and involved using bank accounts, ATM withdrawals, and money orders.
FEMA has issued warnings about fraud after disasters, cautioning people to be vigilant against scammers posing as government officials. The agency mentioned that scammers have stolen over $200 billion from the government through various relief programs. The National Center for Disaster Fraud has received over 220,000 fraud complaints, and the Justice Department established the website in 2005 to address disaster-related fraud.
The Justice Department is investigating hundreds of individuals accused of stealing money intended for disaster victims. FEMA advised Louisianans to be cautious and inform inspectors if they did not apply for assistance, as their information may have been used without their knowledge to create an application.
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