New York City DHS Fraud Investigator Accused of Selling COVID Identity Data to Scammer in New Jersey

Olabanji Otufale, a fraud investigator for the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), has been accused of stealing identity information during the COVID pandemic and then selling it to a scammer in New Jersey, federal authorities allege.

Otufale, 41 years old and living there Brooklynhe abused his position by entering names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers (SSN), and photographs of more than 10 people homeless in the city, according to the indictment that was unsealed Wednesday, it was reported Daily News.

Then sold that data to Mark Lazarre, A New Jersey resident, who stole the victims’ identities so he could appear COVID unemployment claims before New York State Department of Labor (DOL), the feds are suing.

Lazarre, who has a a history of identity theft convictions and at one time having obtained a lease in the name of a deceased person, he is now in prison for a case federal bank fraud in New Jersey.

According to the new indictment, in one of the cases on October 6, 2020, Otufale sent Lazarre a screenshot of a state ID card, complete with personal information, as well as an image of a computer with more information, giving his – enter that person’s social information. Social security number (SSN). Then Lazarus He filed for unemployment insurance in the victim’s name and the DOL sent him a KeyBank debit card.the feds are suing.

Otufale and Lazarre were taking advantage of the ley FEDERAL CAREa package of economic stimulus based in the early days of the pandemic that provided more than $2 trillion in emergency aid because of COVID.

Otufale began working for DHS in 2015, records show. Representatives from the group could not be reached for comment.

Both men were charged aggravated identity theft – which carries a minimum sentence of two years- and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Otufale is awaiting trial in Brooklyn Federal Court, while Lazarre is still being held for other cases in New Jersey. All accusations are just accusations and those accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In a similar case, in March MTA Employee and Court Officer Plead Guilty to Stealing $777,000 in COVID Loans at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and were sentenced.

Also that month a woman pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme of approximately $3.5 million dollars for six years, when she was Director of Finance and Administration at the New York University (NYU).

In another recent case of fraud with public funds in New York, A Hispanic woman who worked for the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars meant for disadvantaged children.creating their signatures to feed his lavish lifestyle, Manhattan prosecutors denied.

Days later, employees of New York City’s homeless services agency (DHS), Postal Service (USPS), Public Housing Authority (NYCHA), Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and a former NYPD school safety officer were among 18 people who was charged. in Manhattan after a ghost gun investigation a million dollar identity theft scam on distressed New Yorkers during the pandemic.

Earlier this year there were others scandals involving municipal employees in New York: On February 29, the FBI did raid on two homes in the Bronx by Winnie Greco, the mayor’s director of Asian affairs of the town, Eric Adams.

Before that the homes and offices of two New York City Fire Department (FDNY) chiefs of investigation were raided as part of an investigation into alleged FBI corruption.

Days earlier, 55 current and 15 retired New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) employees were arrested on February 6. The list includes several Hispanics identified as “super” properties. in several counties. there were the most federal corruption charges filed in one day in Department of Justice (DOJ) history.