A Nigerian national, Abiola Femi Quadri, has been sentenced to 135 months (over 11 years) in federal prison for orchestrating a large-scale COVID-19 relief fraud scheme that stole more than $1.3 million from unemployment and disability benefit programs in California and Nevada.

According to a statement issued on July 10, 2025, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Quadri submitted over 100 fake claims using stolen identities during the pandemic, using the illicit proceeds to build a luxurious resort complex in Nigeria.

Judge Orders Restitution and Fine in High-Profile Pandemic Scam

U.S. District Judge George H. Wu handed down the sentence, also ordering Quadri, 43, to pay $1,356,229 in restitution to the U.S. government and a $35,000 fine. The judge found that Quadri had abused federal relief programs intended to help vulnerable Americans during the COVID-19 crisis.

Court records reveal that Quadri, a permanent U.S. resident, gained his status through what he admitted in private messages was a “fake wedding”. Despite being legally married to another woman, he fraudulently presented himself in a sham marriage to secure immigration benefits.

Fraud Funded Construction of Nigerian Hotel Complex

Between 2021 and 2024, Quadri withdrew fraudulent pandemic aid funds from various ATMs across Southern California. He then transferred at least $500,000 abroad, with much of the money reportedly going toward the construction of Oyins International, a high-end hotel development in Nigeria.

The resort reportedly features 120 rooms, a nightclub, a shopping mall, and other luxury amenities. However, during financial disclosure to the U.S. court, Quadri intentionally failed to report his ownership of the Nigerian project.

Investigators from Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service later uncovered the truth through a detailed review of Quadri’s mobile phone, which included photos of fake checks and conversations about negotiating them.

Fake Checks, Shell Companies, and Hidden Transactions

Authorities discovered images of 17 counterfeit checks on Quadri’s device, totaling more than $3.3 million. Many of these checks were made out to shell companies operated under various aliases linked to Quadri.

Investigators also traced his involvement in multiple business ventures, including a company called Rock of Peace, based in Altadena, California. Through this business, Quadri claimed to provide daycare services for developmentally disabled children—a claim that helped him access additional public funds from the state of California.

During a search of his home, federal agents uncovered misused food-aid debit cards intended for children in his daycare program.

Arrested While Trying to Flee the U.S.

Law enforcement arrested Quadri in September 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport, just as he was preparing to board a flight to Nigeria. He had been cashing out stolen funds for years, and authorities believe his trip was an attempt to escape justice.

After pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on January 2, 2025, Quadri faced his sentencing this week.

U.S. Authorities Vow to Prosecute Pandemic Fraudsters

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown from the Major Frauds Section, with investigative support from multiple agencies, including:

• United States Postal Inspection Service

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

• California Employment Development Department (EDD) Investigation Division

The case marks another victory in the U.S. government’s crackdown on COVID-19 relief fund fraud, a problem that has plagued multiple federal programs during the pandemic recovery period.

A Warning to Others

Authorities have warned that similar investigations are ongoing and that individuals who misused relief programs—especially for personal enrichment or international ventures—will face severe legal consequences.

Quadri’s sentence stands as a stark reminder that abusing public trust during national emergencies will not go unpunished, even if the fraud crosses international borders.