U.S. district court has sentenced Nigerian-American Henry Ezeonyido to 27 months in prison for orchestrating a fraudulent health insurance scheme that defrauded insurers of over $1 million through falsified international medical claims.
Ezeonyido, 37, was convicted of submitting fraudulent claims to five insurance companies between October 2019 and February 2022, falsely asserting that he and at least seven others had received emergency medical treatment overseas for severe injuries such as stabbings, gunshot wounds, and car accidents
In addition to his prison sentence, Ezeonyido has been ordered to pay $655,313 in restitution and forfeit $396,998 in proceeds linked to the fraudulent scheme. He will also serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Authorities emphasized the significance of the sentencing in combating healthcare fraud, which impacts Americans through increased premiums and reduced trust in the system. U.S. Attorney Foley stated, “Healthcare fraud affects every American, and this sentencing sends a strong message that such crimes will not go unpunished.”
Ezeonyido was arrested in July 2024 alongside co-conspirators Brendon Ashe, Aqiyla Atherton, Darline Cobbler, and Ariel Lambert, who all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to probation.