A Nigerian man residing in the San Gabriel Valley has been sentenced to over 11 years in U.S. federal prison for orchestrating a $1.3 million COVID-19 unemployment and disability benefits fraud, which he used to fund the construction of a luxury resort hotel, nightclub, and shopping mall in Nigeria.
Abiola Quadri (43) was sentenced to 135 months in prison by United States District Judge, George Wu.
In addition to the prison term, Quadri was ordered to pay $1,356,229 in restitution and a $35,000 fine, according to a statement issued Thursday, July 10, 2025, by Ciaran McEvoy, Public Information Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California.
Quadri, a Nigerian citizen who obtained U.S. permanent residency through what he described in private messages as a “fake wedding,” pleaded guilty on January 2, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Prosecutors said Quadri submitted more than 100 fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment and disability benefits using stolen identities in both California and Nevada.
From 2021 until his arrest in September 2024, he withdrew the ill-gotten funds at ATMs across Southern California and wired at least $500,000 overseas.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Quadri invested the proceeds into building the Oyins International resort in Nigeria, a sprawling complex featuring a 120-room hotel, a nightclub, a shopping mall, and other luxury amenities.
Quadri concealed his ownership of the hotel when filing mandatory financial disclosures with the court.
Investigators also discovered images on Quadri’s mobile phone of 17 counterfeit checks worth over $3.3 million and messages discussing how to negotiate them.
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Some checks were made payable to shell businesses registered under aliases used by Quadri.
Further investigation revealed Quadri operated Rock of Peace, a daycare business in Altadena, California, which received payments from the state to provide services for developmentally disabled children.
When federal agents searched his residence, they discovered misappropriated food-aid debit cards meant for children under his care.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the California Employment Development Department’s Investigation Division.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section.
Quadri was arrested in September 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Nigeria.
