A Nigerian National Sentenced to 78 Months in US Federal Prison for Role in Over $5 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

 

A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Adepoju Babatunde Salako, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 78 months (six and a half years) in federal prison by a United States District Court for his involvement in a large-scale fraud targeting American COVID-19 relief programs.

The sentencing, announced on March 4, 2026, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, followed Salako's guilty plea to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. As part of the plea agreement, he also agreed to plead guilty to seven additional counts of wire fraud in the District of Alaska.

Court documents reveal that throughout most of 2021, Salako participated in a criminal conspiracy that defrauded more than $5 million from key U.S. pandemic relief initiatives. These included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program administered by the Small Business Administration, and unemployment benefit systems in over 30 states.

The schemes involved submitting fraudulent applications using fabricated information, identities, and documents to obtain funds intended to support businesses and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Salako and his co-conspirators then laundered the illicit proceeds, transferring portions to accounts in China and Nigeria, often retaining a fee of approximately 25% of the fraudulently obtained amounts.

In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Salako to pay $2,581,002.50 in restitution to the victims of the fraud. He will also face three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

U.S. authorities emphasized that the sentence underscores their commitment to prosecuting complex financial crimes that exploit emergency government programs designed to aid those in need during crises.

This case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the IRS Criminal Investigation division and the Department of Justice, to combat pandemic-related fraud, which has resulted in billions of dollars in losses nationwide. Salako's conviction adds to a series of similar prosecutions involving international networks targeting relief funds.