Former USAID Employee Pleads Guilty to $176,000 COVID-19 Relief Fraud in U.S.
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
Writin
A former employee of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Simeon Bakare, has admitted to fraudulently obtaining more than $176,000 through COVID-19 relief programmes established during the pandemic.
Bakare, 55, who resides in Waldorf, Maryland, entered a guilty plea to wire fraud charges in a federal court on Wednesday. Authorities said he exploited financial assistance programmes created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to secure funds he was not entitled to receive.
According to prosecutors, the scheme ran from April 2020 to November 2021 and involved the submission of multiple fraudulent applications under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programme, both designed to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
Investigators said Bakare used falsified documents and misleading information to support the applications, including fabricated tax records and inaccurate claims about business operations. The applications allegedly portrayed businesses that either had little or no legitimate activity, employees, revenue, or operational expenses.
Court documents revealed that at least five fraudulent loan applications were submitted as part of the scheme. The funds obtained through the applications were deposited into accounts under Bakare’s control.
Prosecutors further stated that a portion of the money was spent on personal expenses, including housing costs, vehicle payments, and groceries, rather than for business-related purposes as required under the relief programmes.
The case was investigated by the USAID Office of Inspector General, which retains authority to examine criminal conduct affecting U.S. foreign assistance operations. Federal officials said the prosecution forms part of broader efforts to identify and punish fraud connected to pandemic relief funding.
Bakare now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years for wire fraud. His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for September 3.
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