Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted a Nigerian national, Funke Iyanda, aged 43, on charges of theft of government property, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced on March 19, 2025.
Iyanda, who holds no U.S. immigration status, was accused of submitting a fraudulent claim for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor.
The indictment alleged that Iyanda received approximately $40,980 in unemployment benefits to which she was not legally entitled.
Details of the fraudulent activity
According to the indictment, Iyanda’s fraudulent activities occurred between May 27, 2020, and May 24, 2021.
During this period, she allegedly prepared and submitted a false PUA application in the name of another individual.
The funds received were part of a federal program intended to provide financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Potential penalties and legal proceedings
Under federal law, the charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
The actual sentence will depend on the severity of the offence and Iyanda’s prior criminal record, if any, in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci, with investigations led by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security.
Presumption of innocence
It was reiterated that an indictment is merely an accusation, and Iyanda is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Legal proceedings are expected to follow due process, as outlined by the U.S. judicial system.
Pandemic unemployment
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) was a temporary program established under the CARES Act in 2020 to provide financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It extended unemployment benefits to individuals who were typically ineligible for regular unemployment insurance, such as freelancers, self-employed workers, and part-time employees.
Nigerian lady gets arrested in USA
Legit.ng earlier reported that a Nigerian lady who is also an American said she got arrested for associating herself with a Yahoo boy.
According to the lady who identifies herself as Baddest Orobo on YouTube, she was arrested in 2022. In a YouTube video, Orobo said she was arrested at the airport upon arrival from her vacation.
After her arrest, Orobo said she spent 10 days in detention before she was charged with being a flight risk. “I was charged for conspiracy for fraud. I won’t give too much details because they haven’t arrested the guy. I’m just a scapegoat of this thing. And how did this start? My case started from a bad relationship to a bad decision.
