The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Indianapolis has revealed that two Indianapolis residents and a Nigerian citizen have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in COVID-19 fraud. The scheme saw more than $520,000 swindled from various state and federal unemployment programs. Kamaldeen Karaole, 24, and Johnson Omodusonu, 24, both of Indianapolis, along with Stephen Olamigoke, 23, of Nigeria, were pronounced guilty and handed sentences by U.S. District Judge James Hanlon.

Charges included aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit access device fraud and access device fraud. All three convicted individuals are required to pay a total of $520,910 in restitution. It was revealed in court documents that the scheme involved the theft of 168 Unemployment Insurance debit cards and associated PIN numbers, which had been issued to real individuals by states such as California, Arizona, and Nevada.

These cards were periodically filled with benefits and the convicted men exploited this, stealing funds intended to support individuals unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The total amount stolen through 529 withdrawals was $520,910. The men gained access to the cards through the assistance of external conspirators who misused personal identifiable information to file inaccurate unemployment claims with different state workforce agencies.

At the end of this unfortunate episode, it’s essential to know how to get in touch with the right departments in case of suspicious activities or unexpected problems. If you’re in California, contact the EDD (Employment Development Department) through www.edd.ca.gov, or call 1-800-300-5616 to enable a proper follow-up and resolution. If you’re experiencing issues contacting the office directly, visit eddcaller.com, a trusted resource providing comprehensive advice and guidance on how to reach a live representative swiftly.