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Date: 12-05-2020
Case Style:
Case Number: 1:20-cr-00258-BAH
Judge:
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office, Washington, D.C.
Defendant's Attorney:
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Description: Washington, DC - False Claims Act fraud criminal defense lawyer represented Oyetayo Fagbenro, 62, of Ellicott City, Maryland, charged with one count of filing a false claim before U.S. District Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 12, 2021, before Chief Judge Howell.
As part of his guilty plea, Fagbenro admitted that he was awarded three grants to build media centers at Afghan universities, as part of the United States’ continuing efforts in Afghan reconstruction. He admitted that between September 2010 and August 2012 he received approximately $6.9 million in advances for part of the work on the projects. He further admitted that in that same period he sent approximately $1.38 million from Afghan accounts funded by the State Department to persons he knew and entities he controlled in the United States and other countries, all outside of Afghanistan.
Fagbenro admitted that about $775,000 of the funds he sent outside Afghanistan went to relatives, friends, and corporate entities he controlled with no connection to the purposes of the grants. Fagbenro further admitted that in December 2012 he filed a document with the State Department for one of the grants certifying that he had spent all the State Department funds properly and that he needed more funds to complete the project. He has admitted that those statements were both false. Fagbenro has admitted that the State Department lost about $775,000 as a result of his fraud.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is the nation’s leading prosecuting authority for complex procurement fraud and corruption matters.
This case was investigated by the State Department Office of Inspector General and the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction. Trial Attorney James Gelber of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
18:287; FALSE OR FRAUDULENT CLAIMS; False Claims Against the United States
(1)
Outcome: 12/04/2020 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell: Arraignment/Plea Agreement Hearing as to OYETAYO FAGBENRO held via video conference on 12/4/2020. The Defendant agreed to appear via video conference under the CARES Act and after consultation with counsel. Defendant sworn. Plea of guilty entered by Defendant OYETAYO FAGBENRO to Count 1 of the Information filed on 11/20/2020. Case referred to the Probation Office for Presentence Investigation. Sentencing Hearing scheduled for 2/12/2021, at 10:15 AM before Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. Defendant released on his own personal recognizance pending sentencing. Bond Status of Defendant: Personal Recognizance. Present via video conference: Defense Attorney: Matthew A. S. Esworthy; US Attorney: James J. Gelber; Pretrial Officer: DaShanta ValentineLewis (appearing telephonically). Court Reporter: Elizabeth Saint-Loth. (ztg) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
12/04/2020 10 PLEA AGREEMENT as to OYETAYO FAGBENRO. (ztg) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
12/04/2020 11 STATEMENT OF OFFENSE by USA and OYETAYO FAGBENRO as to OYETAYO FAGBENRO. (ztg) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
12/04/2020 12 WAIVER OF INDICTMENT by OYETAYO FAGBENRO. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on 12/4/2020. (ztg) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
12/04/2020 13 WAIVER of Trial by Jury as to OYETAYO FAGBENRO. Approved by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on 12/4/2020. (ztg) (Entered: 12/04/2020)
12/04/2020 14 ORDER Setting Conditions of Release. Signed by Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on 12/4/2020. (Attachments: # 1 Appearance Bond) (ztg) Modified date of hearing on 12/4/2020 (ztg). (Entered: 12/04/2020)
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