Nigerian Man Jailed in $2.7 Million U.S. Benefits Scam, Faces Deportation in 2029

Authorities uncovered a multi-state fraud scheme after arresting the couple with over 200 ATM cards at a Texas airport

A Nigerian man, Promise Okafor, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison in the United States following his conviction in a large-scale unemployment benefits fraud scheme that netted over $2.7 million. Okafor and his wife, Joyce Emengini, were arrested by Homeland Security agents at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in March 2021 after authorities found more than 200 ATM cards in their possession.

Further investigation uncovered evidence on seized phones and laptops, revealing that the couple had used numerous fake identities to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance benefits in several U.S. states. Surveillance footage also showed the pair withdrawing funds from ATMs across Ohio, Nevada, California, Virginia, and Arizona, using the stolen benefits cards.

Federal authorities opted to charge only Mr. Okafor as part of a plea arrangement, allowing Ms. Emengini to remain free to care for their infant child. Mr. Okafor later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and failing to appear after a pre-trial hearing.

In April 2023, Judge Mark Pitman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas sentenced Mr. Okafor to 108 months in prison. He was also ordered to repay the full \$2.7 million stolen through the scheme, including specific restitution amounts to government departments in Arizona, Ohio, California, Nevada, and Virginia.

The court additionally ruled that Mr. Okafor be handed over to immigration authorities for deportation to Nigeria after completing his sentence in 2029. While he has since sought early release, a federal judge recently denied the motion, and he remains on track to serve his full term.