₦airaland Forum

U.S. Court Sentences Nigerian-American To Over Two Years For $1 Million Medical Insurance Fraud


A Nigerian-American man from Taunton, formerly of Brockton, has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for orchestrating a wide-ranging health care fraud scheme that defrauded insurance companies of more than $1 million through fabricated international medical claims.

The convict, 37-year-old Henry Ezeonyido, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boston by Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

In addition, Ezeonyido was ordered to pay the sum of $655,313 in restitution and forfeit $396,998 in criminal proceeds, according to the District of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Ezeonyido pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud.

He was originally arrested and charged in July 2024 along with co-conspirators Brendon Ashe, Aqiyla Atherton, Darline Cobbler, and Ariel Lambert.

A federal grand jury indicted him in September 2024. All four co-defendants pleaded guilty and received sentences of probation.

According to court documents, between October 2019 and February 2022, Ezeonyido submitted fraudulent insurance claims for himself and at least seven others, including the co-defendants.

The claims falsely stated that the individuals had received expensive out-of-pocket medical treatment overseas for serious injuries, ranging from stabbings to gunshot wounds and hit-and-run accidents, that supposedly required hospitalisation abroad.

In reality, investigators found that nearly all of the individuals were in the United States at the time of the alleged injuries.

The fraudulent claims were supported by fabricated documentation, including falsified medical records, fake bank statements, and bogus police reports.

Some participants were knowingly involved in the scheme and received a cut of the payouts, while others were unaware that their insurance information was being used or were manipulated into sharing it.

After the fraudulent claims were processed, Ezeonyido and his co-conspirators received payouts totalling approximately $655,313 from various health insurance companies.

Atherton, one of the co-conspirators, acted as a recruiter, bringing others into the scheme in exchange for a share of their fraudulent claims. Ezeonyido himself retained nearly $400,000 in criminal proceeds.

“Fraud schemes like this not only steal from insurance companies but drive up costs for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley.

“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the commitment of this office to pursue and prosecute health care fraud.”

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Boston Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, and the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Wright of the Health Care Fraud Unit led the prosecution.

bestower:
The country where law works...Here in Nigeria,the man will be walking freely.

hobyner:
Just 2 years? For $1M. Crime pays

In addition, Ezeonyido was ordered to pay the sum of $655,313 in restitution and forfeit $396,998 in criminal proceeds, according to the District of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Talkisneeded:
Returning most of his earnings and probably looking forward to being sent back to his homeland

hobyner:
Just 2 years? For $1M. Crime pays

hobyner:
Just 2 years? For $1M. Crime pays

hobyner:
Just 2 years? For $1M. Crime pays

ajailer:
Read the article once more and you will see where he is required to payback the whole money. He is coming out a broke dude, and with 3 years supervision after release from jail, he no go fit go back crime for a very long time.

bestower:
The country where law works...Here in Nigeria,the man will be walking freely.

Tohsynetita1:
What if he doesn’t have money to return , what will government do?