A Suwanee woman has entered a guilty plea in federal court in connection with a complex money-laundering scheme involving the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine said Ivie Shevon Sajere, 37, was able to steal almost $1 million by filing fraudulent online applications for SSA retirement benefits and FEMA disaster benefits.
"This was a massive fraud that impacted two government agencies and harmed thousands of victims across the country,” Erskine said. “The defendant thought she could avoid detection because the scheme was so complex. She was wrong. Through the coordination with multiple federal law enforcement agencies, we were able to identify Sajere and bring her to justice.”
According to Erskine's press statement, the charges and other information presented in court showed the fraud began in June 2017 and continued until September 2018 when the defendant and her husband Neville Sajere - both Nigerian nationals who engaged in marriage fraud in an unsuccessful attempt to become US citizens - participated in the money-laundering scheme together.
Erskine said Sajere was able to use stolen personal information to file the fraudulent applications. He said investigators believed the victims were targeted because they were of retirement age but had not filed for SSA retirement benefits; they also did not need FEMA relief funds. He said some of the victims were high profile, including a movie director, an award-winning journalist, the daughter of a legendary movie director and a highly-esteemed academic.
Once an application was approved, Sajere directed the funds be deposited onto a Green Dot debit card, which was opened using other stolen personal information. As soon as the money was credited to the Green Dot debit card, the defendant generated payments through Square, Stripe and Paypal to Nevada Bridge TV, a Nigerian streaming service/television production company owned by the defendant’s husband; BAGMA, an African gospel award show business owned by the defendant’s husband; and Shevonz, a clothing store owned by the defendant.
Sajere pleaded guilty to one count of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h) (conspiracy to commit money laundering.) She also agreed to pay $949,616.40 in restitution to SSA and FEMA.
Sentencing for Sajere is scheduled for March 8, 2022.
