BOSTON, MA — Henry Ezeonyido, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, has been sentenced to 27 months in U.S. federal prison for orchestrating a $1 million insurance fraud scheme.
Between October 2019 and February 2022, Ezeonyido submitted fake health insurance claims for traumatic injuries—such as stabbings and car accidents—allegedly sustained abroad. In reality, he and at least seven co-conspirators, including Brendon Ashe, Aqiyla Atherton, Darline Cobbler, and Ariel Lambert, were in the U.S. at the time of the alleged incidents.
Using falsified medical records, police reports, and bank statements, the group defrauded five insurance companies. While over $1 million was billed, payouts amounted to $655,313. Ezeonyido personally retained nearly $397,000, receiving kickbacks from others involved in the scheme.
All co-defendants pleaded guilty and received probation. Ezeonyido was sentenced by Judge Leo T. Sorokin and will also serve three years of supervised release and pay full restitution.
