Nigerian Woman in U.S. Faces 10 Years in Prison Over $40,980 Unemployment Fraud
A Nigerian woman residing in the United States, Funke Iyanda, is facing the possibility of a 10-year prison sentence after being indicted for fraudulently obtaining $40,980 in unemployment benefits.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) on Thursday, Iyanda, 43, who has no legal immigration status in the U.S., allegedly filed false claims using another person’s identity to receive pandemic unemployment assistance between May 2020 and May 2021.
Fraudulent Claims and Federal Charges
The DoJ revealed that Iyanda submitted falsified applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, securing benefits she was not legally entitled to. A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has indicted her on one count of theft of government property.
“A Nigerian national residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of theft of government property,” the statement read.
The indictment alleges that from May 27, 2020, to May 24, 2021, she applied for and received nearly $41,000 in unemployment benefits despite lacking legal status to qualify for such aid.
Potential Sentence and Legal Consequences
If convicted, Iyanda faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. However, the final sentence will depend on the severity of the offense and her prior criminal history, if any, as outlined in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
“The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence would be based on the seriousness of the offense and the defendant’s prior criminal history,” the DoJ stated.
The authorities emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation and that Iyanda remains innocent until proven guilty in court.
A Growing Trend of Financial Crimes
This case comes just weeks after another Nigerian-born U.S. resident, Professor Gordian Ndubizu, was sentenced to two years in prison for tax evasion. Ndubizu, along with his wife, was found guilty of concealing approximately $3.28 million in income from their pharmacy business, evading $1.25 million in taxes between 2014 and 2017.
As U.S. authorities continue to crack down on financial crimes, Iyanda’s case highlights the severe consequences of fraudulent activities, especially those involving government assistance programs.
