Nigerian Socialite Abiola Femi Quadri Sentenced to 11 Years for $1.3M COVID-19 Fraud in U.S.

Nigerian socialite Abiola Femi Quadri has been sentenced to 11 years and 3 months (135 months) in a U.S. federal prison for masterminding a $1.3 million COVID-19 unemployment and disability fraud scheme.

The 43-year-old, who lived in Pasadena, California, was sentenced on Thursday, July 10, 2025, by U.S. District Judge George H. Wu, who also ordered him to pay $1.35 million in restitution and a $35,000 fine.

Fraud During the Pandemic

According to court documents, Quadri filed over 100 fraudulent unemployment claims in California and Nevada using stolen identities during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funds were used to finance the construction of a lavish 120-room resort in Nigeria, named Oyins International, which includes a nightclub, shopping complex, and luxury amenities.

Investigators discovered that between 2021 and his arrest in September 2024 at LAX Airport, while attempting to flee to Nigeria, Quadri had withdrawn stolen funds from ATMs across California and wired at least $500,000 overseas.

Additional Fraud and Hidden Assets

Agents found 17 fake checks worth over $3.3 million on his phone, as well as incriminating text messages discussing how to cash them through shell companies linked to his aliases.

He also admitted to obtaining U.S. permanent residency through a sham marriage, and in private messages with another woman—who was not his legal wife—he confessed to the scheme.

Authorities uncovered that Quadri ran a state-funded caregiving business for developmentally disabled children, called Rock of Peace, in Altadena, California. Several food-aid debit cards meant for the children were found misused in his home.

Federal Investigation

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Brown from the Major Frauds Section led the prosecution.