A United States court has sentenced Edward Oluwasanmi, a Nigerian pastor, to 27 months in federal prison for defrauding the U.S. government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
According to court documents, Oluwasanmi orchestrated a scheme during the pandemic to obtain fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans intended to support struggling American businesses. He submitted dozens of false loan applications using stolen identities and fake business information, ultimately securing millions of dollars in federal aid meant for genuine COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Investigators said Oluwasanmi used the stolen funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including luxury vehicles and high-end real estate purchases. In addition to his prison sentence, the court also ordered him to pay restitution and forfeit assets acquired with the illicit funds.
The sentencing judge condemned Oluwasanmi’s actions as a gross abuse of a public emergency and a betrayal of public trust, especially given his role as a religious leader. The U.S. Department of Justice has reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting pandemic-related fraud and has warned that similar offenders will face severe consequences.
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