Nigerian socialite Abiola Femi Quadri has been sentenced to 11 years and 3 months (135 months) in a federal prison in the U.S. for For masterminding a $1.3 million fraud scam related to COVID-19 unemployment and disability benefits.
Quadri, who is 43 years old and lived in Pasadena, California, was found guilty of submitting more than 100 fake unemployment claims in California and Nevada, using stolen identities during the pandemic. Prosecutors revealed that he used the illegal money to help build a fancy resort in Nigeria.
On Thursday, July 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge George H. Wu gave the sentence, which also required him to pay $1.35 million in restitution and a $35,000 fine.
Court papers show that Quadri admitted to getting U.S. permanent residency through a fake marriage. In private messages with another woman—who was not his legal wife—he confessed to the dishonest deal.
From 2021 until his arrest in September 2024 at LAX Airport while trying to flee to Nigeria, Quadri took out stolen money from ATMs all over California and sent at least $500,000 overseas. Investigators pointed out that he did not claim ownership of a big property development in Nigeria—a 120-room hotel and shopping center called Oyins International, which has a nightclub and luxurious resort in Nigeria.
Agents uncovered 17 forged checks amounting to over $3.3 million on his mobile device, along with incriminating messages discussing how to cash them using shell companies linked to his fake names.
Also, Quadri operated a business named Rock of Peace in Altadena, where he received state money to help kids with developmental disabilities. Authorities found food-aid debit cards meant for those kids being misused at his house.
The investigation was done by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Employment Development Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Brown from the Major Frauds Section.
