A USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation, which uncovered a scheme to defraud a USAID-funded global public health nongovernmental organization (NGO), has led to the conviction and sentencing of two individuals. Abiodun Ogunwale, of Virginia, received a 42-month sentence, while Abimbola Ajayi, of Maryland, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day. Both were convicted in May of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ogunwale was also found guilty of mail fraud. See, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/federal-jury-convicts-virginia-man-and-maryland-woman-conspiracy-defraud-non-profit.
In November 2020, OIG initiated an investigation into Ogunwale, a former employee of the USAID-funded NGO, following allegations of fraud and embezzlement. The investigation uncovered a scheme that involved Ogunwale and Ajayi, a consultant for the NGO. Specifically, Ajayi submitted fraudulent invoices created by Ogunwale to make it appear that she performed work when she had not. Ogunwale then approved the fraudulent invoices and payments to Ajayi. In addition, Ajayi submitted fraudulent receipts claiming business expenses for which her consulting company, AbbiFabDynamics, LLC, received payment. The consultant, Ajayi, funneled a portion of the money back to NGO employee Ogunwale by a variety of means, including depositing cash into the latter’s account and paying his credit card bills.
NGO employee Ogunwale also hired a family member as another consultant and submitted false expense reports claiming his own company, Compass Management Services and Solutions, LLC, was entitled to payment.
For more details on this case, see the Department of Justice press release.
For more on OIG’s ongoing investigations and recent results, please visit https://oig.usaid.gov/our-work/investigations.
OIG reminds personnel and implementers to continue to report allegations of misconduct OIG’s Hotline, consistent with their award requirements or other legal obligations.