A Nigerian woman, identified as Tammy, has admitted to charges of drug trafficking and bank fraud in the US and could face up to 10 years in prison.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office (Eastern District of Virginia) on Tuesday (November 5), Tammy “pleaded guilty to the allegations of conspiring with others to import more than five kilograms of cocaine, as well as to her role in a separate bank fraud scheme, and to making false statements relating to fraudulent claims submitted to Medicaid for reimbursement.”
Zachary Terwilliger, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, described Tammy as a “triple threat” due to her involvement in multiple crimes, stating:
“Tammy is a ‘triple threat’ of criminality – drug trafficker, a fraudster, and a liar. Tammy, a Nigerian immigrant who has spent the last two decades with the privilege of living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident, clearly has zero respect for American laws pertaining to our borders, controlled substances, our financial system, or our health care system.”
With this plea, Tammy is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for the drug-related charges, with sentencing scheduled for February 28, 2020.
Drug Trafficking and Fraud Scheme
Court documents reveal that Tammy, 40, recruited individuals from the Washington, D.C. area to serve as drug couriers. She was also involved in setting up bank accounts in their names, assisting with passport and visa applications, and arranging their travel.
The couriers primarily traveled to São Paulo, Brazil, where they obtained kilograms of cocaine concealed within soft-sided briefcases or attaché cases. Law enforcement intercepted nearly seven kilograms of cocaine at three different US airports, all linked to couriers allegedly recruited by Tammy.
Additionally, the statement highlighted her involvement in submitting “falsified and fraudulent claims to the D.C. Department of Health Care Finance, a health care benefit program funded by Medicaid.”
Tammy was employed as a personal care aide for multiple home health agencies in Washington, D.C. To receive payment, she was required to submit timesheets signed by clients verifying services provided. However, instead of recording actual work hours, Tammy enlisted Medicaid recipients to act as “patients” and sign fraudulent timesheets in exchange for a small payment.
Investigators discovered that on at least two occasions, Tammy billed for home health services while she was outside the United States.
Beyond drug trafficking and healthcare fraud, Tammy also allegedly utilized her African goods business in Maryland to execute bank fraud schemes.
