A former Texas Southern University professor living in Richmond has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for a yearslong fraud scheme involving student financial aid.
Emmanuel Olugbaike Finnih, originally from Nigeria, later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He pleaded guilty to theft of government funds, fraud, unlawful use or transfer of identity documents, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Finnih submitted more than 100 fraudulent financial aid applications to the Department of Education over approximately five years, using the identities of numerous “straw students” at colleges and universities across Texas.
Finnih submitted the applications seeking more than $1.3 million in federal grants and loans. Of that amount, $921,189.08 was disbursed.
“Higher education costs are already skyrocketing out of control, and it’s scammers like Finnih who make it worse, more expensive, and financially damaging for everyone,” U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz said. “This fraudster will now suffer the consequences of his manipulative, deceitful, un-American crimes.”
According to the DOJ, Finnih used several methods to carry out the scheme, including using other individuals’ personal identifying information to prepare, submit and sign fraudulent financial aid applications and master promissory notes in their names.
He also used mailing addresses, phone numbers and email accounts he controlled to receive communications from the Department of Education and schools. Finnih obtained financial aid refunds through electronic transfers, checks and prepaid debit cards sent to addresses or bank accounts he controlled.
Authorities also discovered that Finnih possessed false identity documents, including temporary driver permits and identification cards, that he intended to unlawfully use or transfer as part of the scheme.
Finnih’s scheme left some victims with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt that had been fraudulently placed in their names, damaging their credit and hindering their ability to enroll in legitimate educational programs.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ordered Finnih to serve 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The Department of Education Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with assistance from the Lone Star College Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“I am proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for shutting down another student aid fraud ring and holding Mr. Finnih accountable for his criminal actions,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Wingle of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Central Regional Office said. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who misappropriate education funds for their own selfish purposes. America’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.”
Finnih was permitted to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined at a later date.
