A Belcamp, Maryland man, Victor Ojo, has received a six-year federal prison sentence for his part in an elaborate identity theft and bank fraud scheme. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin, also comes with three years of supervised release following his incarceration, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
After attempting to scam an estimated $1.5 million, Ojo must also forfeit over $20,000 and pay restitution amounting to $78,350. His criminal activities included conspiring to exploit the IRS's system for assigning Employer Identification Numbers and participating in a fraudulent scheme to receive unemployment insurance benefits. In the latter, he admitted to unlawfully obtaining $28,350 using another individual's identification.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, in collaboration with TIGTA officials Andrew McKay and Scott Moffit, who have played roles in the investigation and prosecution. The case unfolded with evidence pointing to Ojo and his cohorts utilizing stolen information to generate EINs and open various bank accounts. These were then used to siphon funds from compromised business emails and fraudulent transactions.
Further investigation after Ojo's arrest revealed evidence linking him to the crimes. Law enforcement found incriminating items, such as a jacket and hat identified in bank surveillance, a $14,000 check in someone else's name, and several falsified identity documents. Caught by surveillance cameras on multiple occasions, Ojo was seen withdrawing the illicit gains from ATMs across Harford County, Maryland.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph L. Wenner, Paul Riley, and John D'Amico were acknowledged by Barron for their prosecutorial efforts in a federal case that unveiled the theft of pandemic relief funds intended for Americans facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force's efforts, part of a national initiative to combat-related fraud, emphasize the importance of vigilance against such crimes.
