A Nigerian man residing in the San Gabriel Valley, Abiola Femi Quadri, has been sentenced to 135 months in a federal prison for defrauding the states of California and Nevada of $1.3m in COVID-19-related unemployment and disability insurance benefits.
Quadri, aged 43, submitted over 100 false applications using stolen identities and used the funds to construct a nightclub and shopping complex in Nigeria.
The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge George H. Wu, who also ordered Quadri to pay $1,356,229 in restitution and a $35,000 fine.
This information was included in a press release issued by the Public Information Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, Ciaran McEvoy, on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Quadri, a Nigerian national, obtained permanent residency in the U.S. through what he allegedly called a “fake wedding” in communications with a woman who was not his spouse, according to court documents.
He entered a guilty plea on January 2 to a single count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
The statement read, “Quadri withdrew the fraudulent unemployment and disability benefits at ATMs from 2021 until his arrest in September 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport, where he was scheduled to fly to Nigeria. Quadri sent at least $500,000 abroad during the scheme.
“He also paid for the construction of a 120-room resort hotel in Nigeria, the Oyins International, which includes a nightclub, a mall, and additional high-end amenities.
“Quadri failed to disclose his ownership of the hotel as required when completing his financial disclosure to the court.”
Investigators discovered images of 17 fake checks totaling over $3.3m on Quadri’s phone, along with text messages discussing how to cash the checks.
Several of the checks were written to shell companies using aliases associated with Quadri.
California had been paying Quadri to provide daycare for developmentally disabled children through his Altadena-based company, Rock of Peace.
When authorities searched his home, they discovered misused food-aid debit cards meant for children.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Employment Development Department Investigation Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown from the Major Frauds Section led the prosecution.
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