A 37-year-old man, identified as Ezeonyido, has been sentenced to a significant prison term in the United States for orchestrating a fraudulent insurance scheme that netted over a million dollars. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $655,313 in restitution and forfeit $396,998 in illicit proceeds. Upon release, Ezeonyido will also serve three years of supervised release.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Ezeonyido filed fraudulent claims with five different insurance companies between October 2019 and February 2022. The claims falsely stated that he and at least seven others had received emergency medical treatment abroad for serious injuries, including gunshot wounds, stabbings, and car accidents.
However, investigations revealed that, in almost all instances, the individuals were actually in the United States during the purported overseas treatments. The DOJ described the claims as “fabricated, high-cost medical scenarios” designed to extract substantial reimbursements from insurers.
Ezeonyido was arrested and charged in July 2024, along with co-conspirators Brendon Ashe, Aqiyla Atherton, Darline Cobbler, and Ariel Lambert. While Ezeonyido was later indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024, his four co-defendants pleaded guilty and received probation for their involvement in the scheme.
The fraudulent operation involved the creation and submission of fake medical documents, claims of out-of-pocket payments made abroad, and a system of coordinated kickbacks. Several participants were found to have paid portions of their insurance payouts back to Ezeonyido and other intermediaries, including Atherton, who was accused of recruiting individuals into the scheme.
“Healthcare fraud affects every American through increased premiums and reduced trust in the system,” stated U.S. Attorney Foley.
He emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to vigorously prosecuting such crimes, highlighting the serious consequences for those who attempt to defraud the healthcare system.
