A Nigerian woman, Temitope Olaiya aka Tammy, has pleaded guilty to charges of drug trafficking and bank fraud in the US and may spend up to 10 years in jail.
The Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office (Eastern District of Virginia) said in a statement that Tammy pleaded guilty to the allegations of conspiring with others to import more than five kilograms of cocaine.
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It also said she pleaded guilty to being part of a bank fraud scheme, and to making false statements relating to fraudulent claims submitted to Medicaid for reimbursement.
“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,” US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Zachary Terwilliger, said.
The 40-year-old Nigerian risks a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for the cocaine importation charge when sentenced on February 28, 2020.
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Court documents say she recruited men from the greater Washington, D.C. area to act as drug couriers.
She was also accused of opening bank accounts in the couriers’ names, assisting them in obtaining passports and visas, and booking their travel arrangements.
