The final defendant was sentenced in a fraud scheme that federal prosecutors said stole almost $3 million in unemployment relief money from the COVID-19 pandemic through 600 victims.

Sylvester Atekwane, from Hyattsville, received an 18-month sentence, less than his co-defendants, because he was not the ringleader.

He is set to begin serving that sentence early next year .

Atekwane, 32, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to wire fraud in relation to a CARES-Act unemployment insurance fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

Atekwane's sentencing was originally scheduled for Jan. 6, 2023, but was postponed to Sep. 22, 2025. He was one of three men charged in the scheme.

As part of Atekwane's plea, he must pay at least $250,000 in restituti

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