Ivie Sajere Pleads Guilty to $1M SSA/FEMA Scam

ATLANTA, GA – Ivie Shevon Sajere has confessed to her role in a brazen money laundering conspiracy that bilked the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) out of nearly $1,000,000. The scheme, operating between June 2017 and September 2018, relied on the systematic theft of personal information and the fraudulent filing of thousands of online applications for benefits.

According to U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine, Sajere and her husband, Neville Sajere, Nigerian nationals who engaged in marriage fraud in a failed bid for U.S. citizenship, were at the heart of the operation. The pair exploited vulnerabilities in the SSA and FEMA systems, submitting applications using the stolen identities of unsuspecting individuals. These weren’t random targets; investigators discovered the victims were often high-profile figures – a movie director, an award-winning journalist, the daughter of a legendary filmmaker, and a highly esteemed academic – chosen because their age and lack of existing claims made the fraudulent applications more likely to succeed.

“This was a massive fraud that impacted two government agencies and harmed thousands of victims across the country,” stated U.S. Attorney Erskine. “The defendant thought she could avoid detection because the scheme was so complex. She was wrong. Through the coordination with multiple federal law enforcement agencies, we were able to identify Sajere and bring her to justice.” The investigation revealed funds were diverted to Green Dot debit cards opened with *other* stolen identities, then funneled through payment platforms like Square, Stripe, and PayPal to Nevada Bridge TV, a streaming service based in Nigeria.

Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, emphasized the audacity of the scheme. “Sajere and her co-conspirators brazenly used the stolen personal information of innocent people and abused SSA’s online application process to defraud the government of nearly a million dollars,” she said. “This guilty plea demonstrates the commitment we have to ensuring the integrity of SSA’s eServices and to work with our law enforcement partners to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes.”

The successful takedown was a collaborative effort. Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for DHS’s Office of Inspector General, highlighted the strength of the interagency partnership, noting the fraudulently obtained funds “deprive deserving recipients and communities truly in need.” Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, added that Postal Inspectors remain vigilant against the misuse of the mail system for illegal purposes. “This case should serve as a warning to anyone considering similar conduct that those actions will result in criminal consequences.”

While the full extent of the conspiracy and the identities of other participants remain under investigation, Ivie Shevon Sajere’s guilty plea marks a significant step toward accountability. The Department of Justice has not yet announced Sajere’s sentencing date, but she faces substantial penalties for her role in this elaborate and damaging fraud. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of identity theft and the lengths criminals will go to exploit vulnerable systems for financial gain.