D.C. Woman, 48, and Md. Man, 43, Indicted in $148,667 SSA Benefit Fund Scheme

D.C. Woman, 48, and Md. Man, 43, Indicted in $148,667 SSA Benefit Fund Scheme – Grimy Times Exclusive

A three-count indictment was unsealed yesterday in U.S. District Court charging a District woman and a Maryland man with conspiring to launder proceeds from a scheme to steal government benefit funds provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Roliat Abosede Owosho, aka “Rolash,” 48, of Washington D.C. was arrested yesterday and Afeez Olamide Lawal, aka “Fizzy,” 43, of Maryland was arrested May 22, 2024, following their indictment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The indictment alleges that Owosho and Lawal conspired to launder both stolen government SSA benefit funds intended for social security recipients as well as additional stolen government funds.

According to the indictment, Lawal and Owosho laundered proceeds from the scheme to defraud from at least January 1, 2018, through about January 31, 2021. The two received more than $148,667 in SSA, unemployment payments, and tax refunds that did not belong to them. The indictment further charged Owosho with using her bank accounts to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business in the District and conducting money transmissions without a license.

The indictment alleges that Owosho transferred funds on behalf of others through her accounts without registering as a money transmitting business with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), did not obtain a money transmitting license in the District of Columbia, and/or was otherwise involved in transmitting funds known to have been derived from a criminal offense or were intended to be used to promote or support unlawful activity.

This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) – Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the U.S. Capital Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

The SSA benefit fund scheme highlights the need for increased vigilance in financial transactions. As this investigation demonstrates, the consequences of such actions can be severe. Grimy Times will continue to provide updates on this case as more information becomes available.

Lawal and Owosho are scheduled to appear in court at a later date for further proceedings. Their attorneys could not be reached for comment.