Rolex, Lavish Travel Funded By New Rochelle Man's Pandemic Fraud Scheme

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A New Rochelle man has been convicted by a jury of federal charges for his role in an identity theft plot to embezzle federal pandemic relief funds.

Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, announced on Monday that 30-year-old Aly Kaba, of New Rochelle, was convicted on Oct. 21 for his role in the identity theft scheme.

"Kaba used stolen identities to fleece benefits programs intended to benefit workers during a desperate time," Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone said. "Thanks to the hard work of prosecutors in my office and each law enforcement agency involved in this task force, Kaba's days of exotic travel on the taxpayers' dime are over and his next trip will be to federal prison."

After a five-day jury trial, Kaba was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities.

"Mr. Kaba's conviction should serve notice to anyone hoping to misuse the mail for fraudulent purposes," USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Nicholas Bucciarelli said. "Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners will vigorously investigate mail fraud, protect public funds, and bring perpetrators to justice."

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Kaba is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27. The conspiracy and mail fraud charges each carry up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory term of two years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other term of imprisonment.

According to court documents, in late 2020, Kaba conspired with his former roommate, Tony Brobbey, and fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from the NYS Department of Labor worth more than $150,000, which prosecutors say Kaba used on overseas travel and a Rolex watch. In order to make the fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, Kaba used several stolen identities, including a victim named J.F., a victim named J.M., as well as two men who died more than ten years before the pandemic. Kaba's fraudulent claims sought more than $500,000 in benefits.

Brobbey previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7.

"Aly Kaba unlawfully profited from a scheme that used stolen identities to fraudulently obtain critical taxpayer funds intended for qualified individuals in need of unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic," USDOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan R. Mellone said." Safeguarding the integrity of the unemployment insurance program remains a top priority for the Office of Inspector General. We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners to ensure the protection of U.S. Department of Labor programs and operations."