The United States Department of Labour’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has placed a 39-year-old Nigerian national, Onoriode Ezewu, on its inaugural “Most Wanted List” over his alleged leadership role in a money-laundering syndicate that siphoned more than $1 million in public benefit funds.
Ezewu is among 16 high-profile fugitives featured on the list released Wednesday, which targets suspects accused of healthcare fraud, identity theft, labor trafficking, and money laundering totaling over $55 million in taxpayer losses.
Federal investigators believe Ezewu has fled the United States and is currently hiding in Nigeria.
Identity Theft, Skipped Bail, and Federal Charges
According to court filings managed by the OIG’s Atlanta field office, Ezewu was formally indicted in January 2021 on 15 counts of concealment and money laundering.
Federal prosecutors allege that Ezewu operated a widespread benefit scheme that used stolen identities to fraudulently claim:
Unemployment Insurance & Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): Directing relief payments intended for unemployed workers into controlled accounts.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Improperly tapping into US Small Business Administration emergency funding.
Following his initial arrest and court appearance, Ezewu was granted pre-trial release. However, he subsequently violated his bail conditions and fled the country, prompting a US federal court to issue an active warrant for his arrest.
Global Hunt for Public Funds
Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito stated that the launch of the Most Wanted List represents a coordinated effort with the White House Fraud Task Force to track down international fugitives and recover stolen public capital.
“In partnership with the White House Fraud Task Force, we are using every resource possible and will not stop until every one of these criminals is in handcuffs and every stolen dollar is accounted for,” D’Esposito said. “No more excuses. No more hiding. The hunt is on.”
The Department of Labour noted that the initiative relies on international law enforcement partners, news organizations, and the public to locate suspects. Demonstrating its international reach, federal authorities confirmed that another fugitive on the list, Leslie Kaciban, was recently arrested in Hungary and is currently awaiting extradition to the US over a $4 million labor racketeering case.
US authorities have advised anyone with information on Ezewu’s whereabouts to contact the Department of Labour OIG hotline.
