Nigerian In U.S. Illegally Charged With Florida-Related Irma Fraud
HOUSTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - Prosecutors in Texas say a Nigerian who's in the U.S. illegally has been charged with Hurricane Irma-related fraud for trying to obtain a nearly $119,000 home disaster loan in Florida.
Records show Oluseyi Jeremiah Olagoke Adebayo was indicted March 8 and faced a federal court hearing Thursday in Houston. He's charged with fraud in connection with a major disaster, forgery or false use of a passport and aggravated identity theft.
Irma struck Florida last September.
Investigators say Adebayo used another man's ID to apply online for a Small Business Administration loan for property in Orlando, Florida, that he does not own. Adebayo was arrested after trying to pick up the check last month at a post office in Houston.
A lawyer for Adebayo didn't immediately return a message Thursday.
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as two recent earthquakes in Mexico likely cost the insurance industry about $95 billion, said Swiss Re, one of the world's biggest reinsurers.
