ALBANY, N.Y. (Dec. 1, 2025) — A federal jury in Albany convicted 30-year-old Aly Kaba of New Rochelle, New York, on Oct. 21, 2025, of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft after a five-day trial.
Jurors deliberated less than three hours before finding Kaba guilty on all counts for a 2020 scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $150,000 in New York State COVID-19 unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities, including two men who died more than a decade earlier.
Evidence showed Kaba and his former roommate, Tony Brobbey, submitted claims seeking more than $500,000 total. Prosecutors said Kaba spent fraud proceeds on overseas travel and a Rolex watch.
“Kaba used stolen identities to fleece benefits programs intended to benefit workers during a desperate time,” Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said in a statement. “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.”
Kaba faces up to 20 years in prison on each fraud count, a mandatory consecutive two-year term for aggravated identity theft, fines up to $250,000 and supervised release. Sentencing is set for Feb. 27, 2026.
Co-conspirator Tony Brobbey previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2026.
Kaba (2015-19) and Brobbey (2015-17) both attended the University of Albany at the same time: 2015 to 2017.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.