Ifediora Oli, a 41-year-old employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from Silver Spring, Maryland, was sentenced on October 25 to 18 months in federal prison. The sentencing stems from his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud the District of Columbia and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), resulting in over $1 million in improper payments, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Between 2018 and 2023, Oli held a position at the USDA while also acting as the Principal of Highbury Global Group, Inc. Court documents indicate that Oli and his co-defendant, Obinna Ogbu—an IT support manager at WMATA—collaborated to direct WMATA contracts to Highbury. In return, Oli provided Ogbu with valuable items for his assistance, leading to nearly $500,000 in contracts awarded to Highbury.
In a related scheme, co-defendant Bridgette Crowell, a former WMATA employee, assisted Highbury in securing a $630,000 contract for COVID-19 testing supplies with the Department of Forensic Sciences. Crowell provided confidential contract details, receiving $15,000 in cash, while Ogbu profited over $100,000. They further leveraged WMATA resources to benefit Nupath Company, which Ogbu co-owned, acquiring nearly $850,000 in contracts.
On October 21, Crowell, who admitted her role, received a seven-month prison sentence, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to forfeit a car and pay $100,000 in restitution. Ogbu’s sentencing is scheduled for October 28.
This case emphasizes the need for accountability and integrity within public institutions and aims to deter similar fraudulent activities in the future.