A Canadian citizen who fraudulently claimed over $200,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison following his conviction at trial.
Joseph Osei, also known as “Kyngjo,” age 30, was sentenced Tuesday to 54 months in prison after a jury found him guilty of multiple counts of fraud and identity theft. Prosecutors say Osei, formerly of Albany, New York, carried out a multi-state scheme during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, using stolen personal information to illegally obtain benefits.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, Osei targeted unemployment insurance programs in New York, California, Rhode Island, and Arizona, applying for benefits under identities that were not his own. The scheme lasted from August to November 2020, and netted more than $200,000 in fraudulent payments from New York alone.
A federal jury returned a guilty verdict in May after less than two hours of deliberation. Osei was convicted on four counts of mail fraud, one count of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino ordered Osei to serve three years of supervised release, pay $211,360 in restitution to New York and Arizona, and forfeit funds obtained through the scheme.
“Callous and calculated”
Prosecutors and federal officials described Osei’s actions as both brazen and damaging to the public trust.
“His actions were callous and calculated,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, “and justice was served when he was found guilty on all counts.”
Officials emphasized that the fraud took resources away from Americans who genuinely needed assistance during the crisis.
Federal agencies worked together to secure conviction
The case was jointly investigated by:
- The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG)
- The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
With support from Customs and Border Protection and the New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said the conviction should serve as a warning to others considering defrauding government programs:
“The prosecution of Osei will serve as a deterrent to anyone else who thinks about trying to steal from New Yorkers and government programs.”
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