A Nigerian-born former adjunct professor has been sentenced to 78 months in a United States federal prison for his role in a scheme involving fraudulent student financial aid applications and identity theft.
Emmanuel Olugbaike Finnih, 43, a naturalised US citizen living in Richmond, Texas, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence. He previously worked as an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University.
According to the US Department of Justice, Finnih operated the scheme for about five years and submitted more than 100 fraudulent financial aid applications using the identities of people presented as students at colleges and universities across Texas.
The applications sought more than $1.3 million in federal grants and loans. Of that amount, $921,189.08 was eventually disbursed, the Justice Department said.
Authorities said Finnih used other people's personal information to prepare and submit applications and master promissory notes in their names. He also controlled email accounts, telephone numbers and mailing addresses used to receive communications from schools and the US Department of Education.
The funds were allegedly obtained through electronic transfers, cheques and prepaid debit cards sent to addresses or bank accounts controlled by Finnih. Some victims were left with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt, affecting their credit and ability to enrol in legitimate educational programmes.
Finnih pleaded guilty in March to theft of government funds, fraud, unlawful use or transfer of identity documents and aggravated identity theft. As part of his plea, he admitted repeatedly using the personal information of two victims to obtain federal financial aid over several years.
Investigators also recovered false identity documents, including temporary driving permits and identification cards, which prosecutors said were intended for unlawful use or transfer. The case was investigated by the US Department of Education Office of Inspector General with assistance from other law enforcement agencies.
Finnih was allowed to remain on bond after sentencing and is expected to voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. The case highlights the financial and personal consequences that can result when federal student aid programmes are targeted through identity fraud.