Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
A Nigerian national residing in Pittsburgh has been charged with theft of government property, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted Funke Iyanda, 43, who lacks U.S. status, as the sole defendant.
The indictment alleges that from May 27, 2020, to May 24, 2021, Iyanda submitted a fraudulent application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits using another person's identity. As a result of this alleged fraud, Iyanda received approximately $40,980 in unemployment benefits unlawfully.
If convicted, the law stipulates a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence would depend on the seriousness of the offense and any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is handling the prosecution for the government. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation and does not imply guilt; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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