Abiola Quadri Sentenced to 11 Years in U.S. Prison for $1.3M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

A U.S. federal court has sentenced Abiola Femi Quadri, a 43-year-old Nigerian residing in Pasadena, California, to 135 months (11 years and 3 months) in prison for orchestrating a $1.3 million fraud scheme involving COVID-19 unemployment and disability benefits. The scheme targeted California and Nevada by submitting over 100 fraudulent claims using stolen identities. Quadri was also ordered to pay $1,356,229 in restitution and a $35,000 fine.

Court documents revealed that Quadri acquired U.S. permanent residency through a fraudulent marriage, which he admitted in private messages. Between 2021 and 2024, he withdrew the illicit funds at ATMs across California. Investigators discovered that he sent at least $500,000 abroad and used the proceeds to finance the construction of a 120-room resort hotel in Nigeria, known as Oyins International, which includes a nightclub, shopping mall, and other high-end amenities. Quadri failed to disclose his ownership of the hotel during court proceedings.

Further investigations uncovered images of 17 counterfeit checks totaling over $3.3 million on his phone, along with messages discussing their negotiation. Some checks were made payable to shell companies under aliases linked to Quadri. Additionally, during a search of his residence, agents found misappropriated food-aid debit cards intended for developmentally disabled children, which had been diverted through his Altadena-based daycare business, Rock of Peace.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Employment Development Department Investigation Division, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section.