A Nigerian man residing in the San Gabriel Valley has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for defrauding California and Nevada of $1.3 million in COVID-19 unemployment and disability benefits. The fraudulent activities involved submitting more than 100 applications using stolen identities.
Abiola Femi Quadri, aged 43 from Pasadena, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu. He was also ordered to pay restitution amounting to $1,356,229 along with a fine of $35,000.
Quadri is a Nigerian citizen who obtained permanent residency in the U.S. through what he referred to as a “fake wedding,” according to court documents. He pleaded guilty on January 2 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
From 2021 until his arrest in September 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport, Quadri withdrew the fraudulent benefits at ATMs. He was preparing to fly to Nigeria at the time of his arrest. During this scheme, he sent at least $500,000 abroad and financed the construction of Oyins International, a resort hotel in Nigeria featuring a nightclub and mall. Quadri did not disclose his ownership of this hotel during financial disclosures required by the court.
Investigators discovered images on Quadri’s phone of 17 counterfeit checks totaling over $3.3 million, alongside messages discussing their negotiation. Some checks were payable to shell businesses under aliases used by Quadri.
Quadri’s Altadena-based business, Rock of Peace, received payments from California for providing daycare services to developmentally disabled children. Agents found misappropriated food-aid debit cards for these children when they searched his residence.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Employment Development Department Investigation Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown from the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
