Reports
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Department of Justice
Kissimmee Man Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud Charges
Ocala, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces Levelle Joseph Harris (36, Kissimmee) has entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with 14 counts of wire fraud. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Harris had been indicted on June 7, 2022.
Department of Justice
Kissimmee Man Surrenders On Federal COVID Relief Fraud Charges
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Levelle Joseph Harris (36, Kissimmee) has surrendered pursuant to an indictment charging him with 14 counts of wire fraud. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Harris had been indicted on June 7, 2022.
Department of Justice
Eight Defendants Facing Federal Charges Relating to Over $1.6 Million Dollars in Cares Act Covid-19 Fraud, including Identity Theft and Unemployment Insurance Fraud
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging nine defendants in relation to a Maryland and California CARES Act COVID-19 unemployment insurance scheme. The indictment charges the defendants with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of United States Postal Office arrow keys. The indictment was returned on June 21, 2022, and unsealed upon the defendants’ self-surrenders and arrests.
Department of Justice
Baltimore City Man Facing Federal Charges for Allegedly Submitting Fraudulent Covid-19 Cares Act Relief Loan Applications and Stealing the Identity of a Tax Preparer
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dana Lamar Antonio Hayes, Jr., age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, on the federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment was returned on June 23, 2022, and unsealed upon his arrest. Hayes will have an initial appearance today at 3:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner.
Department of Labor OIG
COVID-19: Recovery of Millions in Pandemic-Related UI Overpayments Improperly Waived, Including Fraud
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) was responsible for oversight of CARES Act UI programs. Based on concerns that states may have unintentionally waived the recovery of ineligible overpayments, including fraud, DOL OIG performed an audit to determine if ETA’s guidance and oversight ensure states only waived the recovery of eligible overpayments? DOL OIG found ETA’s guidance and oversight did not ensure states only waived the recovery of eligible overpayments for the three key pandemic-related UI programs from March 27, 2020, to June 30, 2023. ETA did not detect that Michigan and...
Department of Labor OIG
COVID-19: ETA Needs to Improve its Oversight of States' Efforts to Identify UI Fraud Using Deceased Persons' Social Security Numbers
As of September 2022, the OIG reported $45.6 billion in unemployment fraud, including $139.5 million from claims using deceased individuals' Social Security numbers. DOL OIG found that fraudulent unemployment insurance claims were filed using deceased individuals' Social Security Numbers by 10 State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) failed to effectively monitor or report on these claims, which hindered efforts to identify high-risk fraud areas. DOL OIG found $586,782 in benefits paid, with $302,686 confirmed as fraudulent. Although no new...
Department of Labor OIG
COVID-19: ETA Needs to Improve Its Oversight of States' Efforts to Identify UI Fraud Using Suspicious Email Accounts
DOl OIG had concerns regarding UI benefits specifically to what extent did ETA and state workforce agencies (SWA) address potentially fraudulent CARES Act UI claims filed using suspicious email accounts. 10 SWAs were reviewed and DOL OIG found ETA took limited action to ensure states properly addressed the potentially fraudulent UI claims. ETA did not perform the proper oversight actions, because ETA considered its oversight responsibilities to be limited. ETA 's ability to assess UI program performance, identify high-risk areas and provide states with additional tools, because ETA did not...