In a shocking case of fraud and conspiracy, a Georgia man named Bernard Okojie has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that stole almost $2 million in government aid designated for businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Okojie, 41 years old, was convicted of fraud and conspiracy charges by a jury in March and was recently sentenced by a U.S. District Court judge in Brunswick. Prosecutors revealed that Okojie filed numerous applications in 2020 and 2021, both for himself and others, seeking COVID-19 relief funds.

However, none of the businesses mentioned in these applications even existed. The government ended up paying Okojie and his accomplices more than $1.9 million. Shockingly, instead of using the money for its intended purpose, Okojie and his group used it to finance lavish purchases, including a home, vehicles, luxury shopping trips, and even acquiring a toy poodle. Authorities apprehended Okojie as he attempted to flee the United States, discovering that he was carrying nearly $40,000 in cash.

In addition to serving a prison term of 64 months, Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Okojie to repay the entire sum of $1.9 million. Prosecutors deemed Okojie's scheme as "complex and far-reaching," illustrating his intent to deceive and defraud the government's relief efforts for struggling small businesses during the pandemic. U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg of the Southern District of Georgia emphasized the importance of holding Okojie accountable for his blatant acts of fraud.

This case, however, is not an isolated incident. An analysis conducted by the Associated Press reveals thousands of suspected schemes where fraudsters potentially stole over $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding as the government hurriedly dispersed aid to those in need. These findings shed light on the urgent need for enhanced measures to prevent such scams and safeguard the funds meant to provide relief to businesses affected by the pandemic.