U.S. Court Jails Nigerian Pastor for Massive COVID Relief Fraud

A U.S. court has sentenced Nigerian pastor Edward Oluwasanmi to 27 months in prison for pandemic relief fraud on July, 2, 2025.

According to reports, the federal prosecutors said Oluwasanmi defrauded the U.S. government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 emergency loan funds.

He filed fraudulent applications under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) programs.

Oluwasanmi used fake tax documents and false wage reports to support those fraudulent loan applications.

He controlled three companies: Dayspring Transportation Ltd, Dayspring Holding Inc, and Dayspring Property Inc.

Using those entities, he submitted multiple applications between April 2020 and February 2022.

He claimed fake employees and exaggerated payroll expenses in each loan application.

Federal investigators said the information was entirely fabricated and designed to trick the U.S. government.

He spent the stolen funds on personal expenses, violating U.S. pandemic relief laws.

Agents from the FBI and IRS traced the illegal funds through detailed forensic investigations.

Authorities arrested Oluwasanmi in April 2024, along with Joseph Oloyede, a traditional Nigerian ruler.

Oloyede holds the title of traditional ruler of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Nigeria.

Prosecutors charged both men with 13 criminal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to defraud.

In February 2025, both Oluwasanmi and Oloyede pleaded guilty to selected charges in plea agreements.

On July 2, Judge Christopher Boyko of the Northern District of Ohio handed down Oluwasanmi’s sentence.

The judge sentenced him to 27 months in prison on counts 1, 11, and 12 of the indictment.

He ordered the sentences to be served concurrently, meaning at the same time.

In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Oluwasanmi to forfeit $1.3 million to the U.S. government.

The court has not yet ruled on sentencing for Oloyede, who remains defendant number one in the case.

Investigators flagged Oluwasanmi’s fraud during an audit of COVID-19 loan disbursements.

They identified discrepancies in payroll figures, employee records, and IRS documentation in his loan files.

Prosecutors said the scam exploited emergency programs meant to help struggling American workers and businesses.

They emphasized that Oluwasanmi knowingly lied to gain access to large sums of taxpayer funds.

His arrest drew widespread attention due to his religious position and cross-border fraud operations.

The U.S. government has ramped up prosecutions of COVID-19 relief fraud since early 2023.

Federal officials say hundreds have already been jailed for similar PPP and EIDL-related schemes.

They vowed to pursue fraudsters both inside and outside the U.S. who exploited pandemic funding.

Oluwasanmi’s case serves as a warning to other international fraud rings targeting U.S. aid programs.

He will now serve his sentence in a U.S. federal prison before facing possible deportation.

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