Jury Convicts New Rochelle Man of Pandemic Fraud

Summary

Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York, dated December 1, 2025. Aly Kaba of New Rochelle, New York was convicted on October 21, 2025 following a five-day trial of one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft for fraudulently obtaining pandemic unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities. The trial evidence showed that in late 2020 he conspired with his former roommate, Tony Brobbey, and obtained benefits from the New York State Department of Labor worth more than $150,000; his claims sought more than $500,000. Sentencing is scheduled for February 27, 2026, and Brobbey previously pled guilty with sentencing scheduled for January 7, 2026.

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“Jury Convicts New Rochelle Man of Pandemic Fraud.” Original at www.oig.dol.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-12-10-jury-convicts-new-rochelle-man-of-pandemic-fraud-and-identi-b4d5de6898/, SHA-256 46803635c0d08499b60295294465d398491b53b71cdacdad5fd275ba6118eada.

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PRESS RELEASE

Jury Convicts New Rochelle Man of
Pandemic Fraud and Identity Theft
Monday, December 1, 2025

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Aly Kaba, age 30, of New Rochelle, New York, was convicted on
October 21, 2025 following a five-day trial of one count 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. Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before returning a
guilty verdict on all counts.

Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge
of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Erin
Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region,
United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), made the
announcement.

The trial evidence showed that in late 2020, Kaba conspired with his former roommate,
Tony Brobbey, and fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from the
New York State Department of Labor worth more than $150,000. To make the
fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, Kaba used multiple stolen identities,
including a victim named J.F., a victim named J.M., as well as two men who died more
than a decade before the pandemic. Kaba’s fraudulent claims sought more than
$500,000 in benefits. The evidence also showed that Kaba used fraud proceeds on
overseas travel and a Rolex watch.

Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “Kaba used stolen identities to fleece benefits
programs intended to benefit workers during a desperate time. 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.”
USPIS Acting Inspector in Charge Nicholas Bucciarelli stated: “Mr. Kaba’s conviction
should serve notice to anyone hoping to misuse the mail for fraudulent
purposes. Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners will vigorously
investigate mail fraud, protect public funds, and bring perpetrators to justice.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Keegan said: "This conviction reinforces HSI Albany's
commitment, alongside our law enforcement partners, to protecting communities from
fraud and ensuring that relief programs serve those who truly need them. We are proud
to have successfully brought justice in a case that safeguards the public by preventing
the exploitation of critical government resources."

USDOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan R. Mellone stated: “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. 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.”

Kaba’s sentencing is scheduled for February 27, 2026. The conspiracy and mail fraud
charges each carry a maximum term of 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 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other
term of imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the
particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
and other factors.

Brobbey previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated
identity theft. His sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2026.

This case was investigated by USPIS, HSI, and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from U.S.
Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office and the New York State
Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.

###

Updated December 1, 2025

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