Sylvester Atekwane, 32, received an 18-month federal sentence for his role in a pandemic-era unemployment insurance fraud scheme that affected 600 victims and stole nearly $2.7 million in CARES Act relief funds.
Atekwane pleaded guilty in July 2022 to wire fraud but was sentenced on September 22, 2025. He received a lighter sentence than co-defendants Gladstone Njokem (54 months) and Martin Tabe (24 months) because prosecutors said he was not the ringleader. Atekwane is also required to pay at least $250,000 in restitution.
How the Fraud Worked
The defendants allegedly collected personal information — social security numbers and birthdates — of unsuspecting victims between February 2020 and February 2021. They then applied for unemployment benefits, which were delivered on prepaid debit cards, often sent to vacant apartments the defendants could access. Video evidence showed Atekwane withdrawing money from ATMs using some of these cards.
Prosecutors noted that one victim was a person with limited mental capacity under Atekwane’s care. The scheme has been described as using COVID relief funds as a “piggy bank”.
Deportation Concerns
Atekwane, a resident alien originally from Cameroon, now faces possible deportation. His attorney, Elizabeth Lopez, told the court that Atekwane had received very little of the stolen funds personally and that deportation could put him in danger:
“He will likely be deported to Cameroon. It’s a country that embraces torture and murder.”
Atekwane fled Cameroon years ago due to death threats and has lived legally in the U.S. under resident alien status. He expressed deep remorse and pleaded to stay in the United States to remain with his wife and children.
“My prayer is I shouldn’t be deported because I really want to stay together with my family…because I’ve learned a lot from this, and I’ve learned to become a perfect gentleman,” he said.
Context
This case is part of a series of COVID-19 relief fraud prosecutions in Maryland, including a Ponzi-style investment scam and another unemployment insurance fraud scheme in Baltimore that defrauded the state of over $250,000.
District Court Judge Richard Bennett described the nationwide abuse of pandemic aid programs as “shocking” and compared it to opening a cookie jar for people to raid at their pleasure.
Atekwane is expected to begin serving his sentence early next year at a federal prison in Cumberland, Maryland. The possibility of deportation adds an additional layer of uncertainty to his future.
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