A U.S. court has sentenced Abiola Quadri, a 43-year-old Nigerian and Pasadena resident, to over 11 years in prison for orchestrating a $1.3 million fraud scheme using stolen identities to claim COVID-19 benefits.
Authorities said Quadri funneled over $500,000 to Nigeria to build a luxury resort, nightclub, and shopping mall. He was arrested in September 2024 at LAX while attempting to flee.
Quadri pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was also fined $35,000 and ordered to pay $1.36 million in restitution.
