Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi, jailed.
By Jeff Kerry
A U.S.-based Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison over $4.2 million (N6.4 billion) fraud.
The convict was jailed for fraudulently obtaining approximately $4.2 million (N6.4 billion) in COVID-19 relief funds guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The trial Judge, Justice Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, convicted Oluwasanmi on Counts 1, 11, and 12 of a 13-count charge, and sentenced him accordingly.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
The court also ordered him to forfeit $1.3 million to the U.S. government.
Meanwhile, the court also convicted Oba Joseph Oloyede, who is the convict’s friend and traditional ruler of Ipetumodu, Ondo State.
The royal father was ordered to forfeit his property to the U.S. government while awaiting his sentencing which is fixed for August 1.
It would be recalled that the duo were arrested in April 2024 and later arraigned before Justice Boyko of the U.S. District Court of Ohio.
They were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property.
According to U.S. prosecutors, between April 2020 and February 2022, the duo submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications using falsified tax and wage documents for businesses under their control.
They had both pleaded guilty to some of the charges after reaching a plea agreement.
Justice Boyko also ordered Oluwasanmi to pay a fine of $15,000 and report himself to the U.S. Marshal Service.
