GREENBELT, MD—A Nigerian national, Newton Ofioritse Jemide, 47, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of wire fraud conspiracy for his involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced on Tuesday.

Jemide, extradited from France, was part of a group that directed co-conspirators in the United States to purchase hundreds of Green Dot debit cards. These cards were then registered with stolen personal information from identity theft victims.

The group, including Jemide, used an encrypted messaging app and other means to communicate. In 2017, following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as the California wildfires, they used stolen personal information to apply online for FEMA and Critical Needs Assistance (CNA) benefits. FEMA dispersed $500 per claim on the Green Dot debit cards, totaling at least $8 million.

“Mr. Jemide and his co-conspirators’ greed and utter disregard for the suffering of those who need national emergency assistance, by stealing from the government, will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. “The District of Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners will continue to hold those accountable who try to defraud our government through fraud, waste, and abuse during times of crisis.”

Jemide faces up to 30 years in federal prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Deborah K. Chasanow.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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