Washington D.C. Woman and Maryland Man Indicted in $148K SSA Benefit Fund Laundering Scheme

A federal grand jury has taken a major step in dismantling a lucrative scheme to steal government funds by indicting a District of Columbia woman and a Maryland man for conspiring to launder $148,667 in stolen Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits, unemployment payments, and tax refunds.

Roliat Abosede Owosho, 48, aka “Rolash,” a Washington D.C. resident, and Afeez Olamide Lawal, 43, aka “Fizzy,” a Maryland man, were arrested and are facing serious charges. According to the indictment, the duo conspired to launder funds intended for social security recipients, as well as additional stolen government funds, from at least January 1, 2018, through about January 31, 2021.

Lawal and Owosho allegedly received the stolen funds into their personal accounts and either used the stolen funds for their personal use or further transferred the stolen funds to others without authority from the intended recipients. The two received over $148,667 in SSA, unemployment payments, and tax refunds that did not belong to them.

The indictment also charges Owosho with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business in the District and conducting money transmissions without a license. Specifically, 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.

The investigation into this scheme was led by the Social Security Administration (SSA) – Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the U.S. Capitol Police, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas is leading the prosecution, with valuable assistance provided by Paralegal Specialist Lisa Abbe.

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.

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