A 60-year-old Nigerian national living in Maryland, United States, Akinpelumi Olawale Oyewusi, has pleaded guilty to federal charges arising from his involvement in a multi-state unemployment insurance fraud scheme that used stolen identities to obtain government benefits illegally.
Oyewusi, a resident of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
The case is being prosecuted as part of the Trump administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, an initiative targeting major financial and benefits-related fraud schemes.
US Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, announced Oyewusi’s guilty plea alongside Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito of the US Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
According to court documents and the facts presented in connection with his guilty plea, Oyewusi and other members of the conspiracy operated between September 2020 and at least March 2021. During that period, the group allegedly targeted state workforce agencies, including the Maryland Department of Labor, by filing fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits.
The conspirators allegedly used the personal information of genuine individuals to create false unemployment claims in their names.
The stolen identities reportedly included victims’ real names and Social Security numbers, which were used to make the fraudulent applications appear legitimate.
However, the claims contained false information regarding the victims’ employment histories and unemployment status, allowing the conspirators to receive benefits to which they were not entitled.
Investigators said the fraudulent claims were submitted in Maryland and other states, including California, where the California Employment Development Department was also allegedly targeted.
Once the claims were approved, the unemployment benefits were reportedly deposited onto debit cards issued by financial institutions.
The cards were allegedly linked to bank accounts established or controlled by members of the conspiracy and were mailed to addresses in Maryland and other locations.
Oyewusi reportedly played a direct role in accessing the funds generated through the fraudulent claims.
According to prosecutors, he would obtain the unemployment insurance debit cards connected to the fraudulent applications, withdraw or transfer the money and then pass portions of the proceeds to other members of the conspiracy.
The government said Oyewusi retained his share of the proceeds after distributing funds to other participants.
Investigators also alleged that Oyewusi received alerts from the United States Postal Service notifying him when mail associated with the fraudulent debit cards was delivered.
The alerts allegedly enabled him to monitor the arrival of the cards and quickly access the funds loaded onto them.
Prosecutors said Oyewusi typically withdrew the maximum amount permitted from each card.
Between December 2020 and March 2021, photographs from at least 18 ATM transactions reportedly captured Oyewusi withdrawing a combined $18,000 from unemployment insurance debit cards issued in the names of six different fraudulent claimants.
Bank records examined during the investigation reportedly showed that Oyewusi withdrew approximately $69,000 from the same unemployment insurance debit cards over the course of the broader scheme.
The investigation established a direct financial connection between Oyewusi and at least $415,874.63 in actual losses resulting from the conspiracy, according to prosecutors.
The government further alleged that Oyewusi personally obtained at least $25,000 from his participation in the scheme.
The case has therefore affected multiple categories of victims.
According to the prosecution, individuals whose personal information was stolen became victims of identity theft, while state workforce agencies suffered financial losses because unemployment benefits were fraudulently obtained.
A financial institution was also allegedly victimised when unemployment insurance payments were diverted and fraudulent transactions were carried out.
The scheme is believed to have exploited the extraordinary demand for unemployment benefits during the period in which many workers were affected by economic disruption and widespread job losses.
Federal and state authorities in the United States have pursued numerous investigations into fraudulent unemployment insurance claims involving stolen identities, false employment information and improperly obtained government benefits.
The case against Oyewusi demonstrates the multi-agency nature of efforts to investigate such schemes, with federal prosecutors working alongside inspectors general from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor.
Authorities said the guilty plea reflects the seriousness of fraud targeting government benefit programmes and the consequences for individuals who participate in such schemes.
By pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, Oyewusi has admitted responsibility for his role in the criminal operation.
The charges carry significant federal penalties, particularly the aggravated identity theft count, which generally attracts a mandatory additional prison term under US federal law when convicted.
However, the exact sentence Oyewusi will receive will be determined by the court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors.
His sentencing has been scheduled for Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 2 p.m.
Until the sentencing hearing, Oyewusi will remain subject to the conditions imposed by the court in his case.
The case is another example of the US government’s increasingly aggressive approach to identifying and prosecuting individuals accused of defrauding public benefit programmes.
Federal authorities have also emphasised the importance of protecting personally identifiable information, including Social Security numbers and employment records, from criminals who seek to exploit such data for financial gain.
The scale of the alleged losses in Oyewusi’s case demonstrates how relatively small fraudulent withdrawals can become a substantial financial burden when repeated across numerous claims and jurisdictions.
The prosecution also highlights the role of technology and financial systems in both facilitating and detecting modern benefit fraud. Electronic transfers, debit cards, automated bank records, postal notifications and surveillance photographs all reportedly contributed to investigators’ ability to trace the movement of fraudulent funds.
For the victims whose identities were allegedly used, the consequences may extend beyond the direct financial loss. Identity theft can create difficulties involving credit records, government benefits, employment and other financial matters.
The case is therefore expected to remain significant as US authorities continue efforts to strengthen controls around unemployment insurance programmes and prevent the misuse of public funds.
Oyewusi’s guilty plea marks an important stage in the prosecution, but the wider investigation could continue as authorities examine other individuals who may have participated in the alleged conspiracy.
For now, prosecutors have established that Oyewusi was involved in a scheme that used stolen identities and fraudulent unemployment claims to obtain government benefits across multiple states.
His admission of guilt brings the criminal proceedings closer to conclusion, with the next major development expected to be the sentencing hearing in December.
