Newton Ofioritse Jemide, a Nigerian national, was extradited from France to the United States on September 13, 2024, to face serious federal charges involving wire fraud and money laundering. These charges are tied to an elaborate scheme that allegedly defrauded federal benefits, amounting to over $8 million. This extradition has been confirmed by Philip Selden, First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

Initial Court Appearance

Jemide made his initial appearance in federal court on September 16, 2024, where he was formally charged. He is currently in custody, pending trial.

Details of the Indictment

The indictment outlines a conspiracy operation that occurred between 2016 and 2018, targeting funds distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This time frame saw FEMA providing critical assistance to individuals affected by national disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires.

Nature of the Alleged Fraudulent Activities

Exploitation of FEMA Benefits

Jemide and his co-conspirators reportedly exploited the Critical Needs Assistance (CNA) program, applying for financial aid using stolen identities during national disasters.
At least 8 million was fraudulently obtained by submitting claims for assistance, with FEMA disbursing payments in increments of 500 to pre-paid Green Dot debit cards linked to these claims.

Identity Theft

The scheme allegedly involved extensive identity theft, where personal information of victims across the United States—including names, Social Security Numbers, and addresses—was stolen and misused to create fraudulent claims.

Broad Range of Federal Benefits Targeted

In addition to FEMA claims, the indictment further specifies that Jemide and his associates filed false claims for Social Security benefits, IRS tax refunds, and other government assistance using stolen identities.

Once funds were loaded onto the Green Dot cards, Jemide and his co-conspirators allegedly implemented a series of complex methods to “cash out” the drugs. This included:

Cashing Out Techniques: Utilizing various strategies, including withdrawing cash at ATMs, transferring funds into bank accounts, and purchasing money orders.
Concealment Tactics: Steps were taken to hide their identities and the ongoing fraud. These involved using different bank accounts—including those of corporate entities—enlisting others for transactions, and communicating through encrypted messaging applications.

Potential Sentencing

If convicted, Jemide faces severe penalties—up to 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a maximum of 20 years for conspiracy to commit money laundering.