A U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Maryland, has sentenced 29-year-old Nigerian national Temitope Bashua to 30 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for his involvement in a large-scale COVID-19 unemployment insurance fraud scheme.

The sentence was handed down on November 20, 2025, by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher after Bashua admitted participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

The fraud exploited financial relief programs established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was designed to provide emergency support to Americans affected by the pandemic. Programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program and EIDL offered vital assistance to small businesses, including non-repayable advances of up to $10,000.

According to court documents, from May 2020 through September 2022, Bashua and co-conspirators impersonated victims to submit fraudulent claims for UI benefits in Maryland and California. They also submitted fake EIDL applications using stolen personal information to obtain funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

As a result, Bashua received over $290,000 in U.S. Treasury funds. In addition to the COVID-19 fraud scheme, he admitted involvement in other criminal activities, including cyber intrusion, romance fraud, and business email compromise schemes.

The sentence was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside officials from the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.

This case serves as a reminder of the federal government’s continued vigilance in prosecuting fraud related to pandemic relief programs.