A Nigerian identified as Chidozie Collins Obasi, has been declared wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, for allegedly scamming New York beyond $30m million over the supply of “non-existent” ventilators.
The FBI said Obasi, 29, allegedly faked his identity as a representative of an Indonesian-based medical supply firm selling ventilators in March 2020 during the COVID-19 period.
The US attorney’s office in a statement issued on Friday stated the Obasi claimed the Indonesian-based firm had many ventilators manufactured by a German company for sale.
He received $30 million from the State of New York as payment for the ventilators, which the statement said were non-existent.
The US government said, “The indictment further alleges that in approximately March 2020, soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States and ventilators were in high demand, Obasi posed as a representative of an Indonesian-based medical supply company offering ventilators for sale, and claimed to have a large stockpile of ventilators manufactured by a German company whose headquarters was in Telford, PA.”
“The defendant allegedly convinced a medical equipment broker in the U.S. to broker sales of these non-existent ventilators, and ultimately deceived the State of New York into wiring more than $30 million for the purchase of ventilators that did not exist.
“Obasi continued to target other potential customers with this same scam, including hospitals.”
See Also: Asians Attacked Our Portal During Ekiti, Osun Guber Election – INEC
The FBI also alleged that Obasi and a co-conspirator offered phony work-from-home jobs to US citizens in September 2018 to obtain more than $1 million.
“When a person responded to the phony job offer, Obasi or a co-conspirator posed as a representative of a legitimate company, often a supposed medical equipment supplier based outside the United States, and offered the person a job as the company’s U.S. representative with responsibilities including collecting on outstanding invoices,” the statement added.
“A co-conspirator in Canada then sent the new “employee” counterfeit checks purportedly from customers of the company, and the new “employee” deposited the checks, took a commission, and wired the rest of the money to a foreign bank account ostensibly owned by the fake company. As alleged in the indictment, Obasi and his co-conspirators obtained more than $1 million in this manner.”
The FBI also disclosed that Obasi and his co-conspirators used stolen identities of US citizens to apply for and obtain more than $135,000 in the COVID-19 economic injury disaster loan in June 2020.
The FBI added that accused faces a sentence of up to 621 years in incarceration if found guilty.
Source: Cable
- Gov Alex Otti Reacts To Tribunal Judgment - October 7, 2023
- Fake Credentials: Soyinka Dares Accusers To Prove Allegations - October 7, 2023
- Ukraine Vow To Shun UEFA Competitions Featuring Russian Teams - September 27, 2023
