An Instagram big boy, Bamidele Muraina, has been arrested for hacking into tax preparation firms and filed fraudulent unemployment benefit claims and tax returns using stolen personally identifiable information.
Bamidele Muraina, aka Dele Ewe, 35 and his Zambian conspirator, Gabriel Kalembo, a previously convicted fraudster have been sentenced to 70 months in prison and ordered to pay $561,125.62 in restitution.
According to acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine; “These defendants stole funds from programs meant to assist American workers and families seeking to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic,”
“The collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners were essential to disrupting a sophisticated network of criminals and bringing their leaders to justice.”
These men got their hands dirty in over$2.6m fraud in the U.S, defrauding defraud the Employment Security Department of Washington State (“ESD-WA”) by filing dozens of fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims in the names of identity theft victims who were not entitled to such benefits.
“As part of the same conspiracy, Gabriel Kalembo and his conspirators laundered the unlawfully obtained UI benefits from ESD-WA by purchasing and then later negotiating hundreds of money orders.” Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General added.
The convicts were said to not only have stolen not only stole from the government but also individuals, people’s hard-earned tax returns and money meant to help families during the pandemic.
Between at least January 29, 2018, and continuing through approximately April 2020, Muraina hacked into multiple tax preparation and accounting firms located in several states, including a Brunswick, Georgia-based accounting firm.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on us all.
Thanks to our judicial system, justice has been served.” Special Agent in Charge Steven Baisel, U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office said.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment