A 43-year-old Nigerian-born naturalised US citizen and former adjunct professor at Texas Southern University has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for orchestrating a years-long scheme involving fraudulent student financial aid applications and identity theft.
Emmanuel Olugbaike Finnih, of Richmond, Texas, was also ordered by US District Judge Andrew Hanen to serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
The United States Department of Justice said Finnih pleaded guilty on March 20 to theft of government funds, fraud, unlawful use or transfer of identity documents and aggravated identity theft.
According to court proceedings, Finnih operated the scheme for approximately five years, submitting more than 100 fraudulent financial aid applications to the US Department of Education using the identities of individuals described as “straw students” at colleges and universities across Texas.
He used the victims’ personal identifying information to prepare, submit and sign financial aid applications and master promissory notes in their names. He also allegedly controlled the mailing addresses, telephone numbers and email accounts used to receive communications from the Department of Education and educational institutions.
The financial aid refunds were subsequently obtained through electronic transfers, cheques and prepaid debit cards sent to addresses or bank accounts under his control.
As part of his guilty plea, Finnih admitted repeatedly using the personal identifying information of two victims over several years to fraudulently obtain federal financial aid.
Investigators also found false identity documents, including temporary driver’s permits and identification cards, which authorities said Finnih intended to use or transfer unlawfully as part of the scheme.
The fraud resulted in some victims being saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in student loans allegedly obtained in their names, affecting their credit and, in some cases, their ability to enrol legitimately in educational institutions.
The court further heard that Finnih sometimes altered the names of female straw students to make them masculine while retaining their correct Social Security numbers and dates of birth. Prosecutors said the practice made it easier for him to impersonate the individuals and continue the fraud.
In one instance, Finnih reportedly contacted a local community college and attempted to have financial aid payments unfrozen after the institution flagged fraudulent transcripts associated with one of the individuals whose identity had been used.
The fraudulent applications sought more than $1.3 million in grants and loans, with $921,189.08 ultimately disbursed.
US Attorney Aaron Reitz said the case demonstrated the financial consequences of fraud involving higher education.
“Higher education costs are already skyrocketing out of control, and it’s scammers like Finnih who make it worse, more expensive, and financially damaging for everyone,” Reitz said.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Wingle of the US Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Central Regional Office said the agency and its law enforcement partners would continue pursuing individuals who misappropriate education funds.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Education Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Lone Star College Police Department, US Marshals Service and US Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant US Attorney Brad R. Gray prosecuted the case.
Finnih was allowed to remain on bond and is expected to voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to begin serving his sentence.
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