Funke Iyanda, a Nigerian woman in the U.S., faces up to 10 years in prison for committing $40,980 unemployment fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice charges her with using another person's identity to claim unemployment benefits from May 2020 to May 2021. She could also face a $250,000 fine.
A Nigerian woman, Funke Iyanda, based in the United States, faces a potential 10-year prison sentence after being indicted for a $40,980 unemployment benefit fraud. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Iyanda, an illegal resident, used another person’s identity to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance between May 2020 and May 2021.
The indictment alleges that Iyanda submitted a fraudulent claim to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, resulting in her receiving nearly $41,000 in benefits to which she was not entitled. The charges stem from her filing a false application for unemployment assistance in the name of another individual.
If convicted, Iyanda could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The U.S. legal system presumes her innocence until proven guilty in court, and her sentencing will be influenced by the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history.
This case follows a recent instance of another Nigerian national, Professor Gordian Ndubizu, who was sentenced to two years in prison for tax evasion in connection to a pharmacy business that evaded approximately $1.25 million in taxes between 2014 and 2017.
