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Four Maryland Residents Facing Federal Indictment for CARES Act COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme with More Than $3 Million in Losses
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging four Maryland residents with federal conspiracy and wire fraud charges related to a CARES Act unemployment insurance fraud scheme with more than $3 million in losses. The indictment was returned on July 13, 2022, and unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants.
Romanian National Sentenced To Prison For ATM Skimming Fraud
LAS VEGAS – A Romanian citizen — who entered the U.S. illegally — was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for engaging in ATM skimming fraud scheme.
Brighton Man Arrested for $1.5 Million COVID-Relief Fraud
BOSTON – The owner of a Massachusetts-based food truck business has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly filing fraudulent loan applications in order to obtain $1.5 million in pandemic relief under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.
Tampa Woman Sentenced To Prison For Access Device Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft Related To COVID Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Rolanda Wingfield (39, Tampa) to three years in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of her sentence, the court also ordered Wingfield to pay $135,576 in restitution to the various state workforce agencies she defrauded. Wingfield had pleaded guilty on April 26, 2022.
Sarasota Man Sentenced To More Than Five Years In Prison For COVID-19 Related Fraud
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Randy Xavier Jones (34, Sarasota) to five years and one month in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The court also ordered Jones to forfeit proceeds traceable to the offense, including 12 fraudulently obtained prepaid debit cards containing unemployment insurance benefits to which Jones was not entitled. Jones had pleaded guilty on March 24, 2022.
FAA Quickly Awarded CARES Act Funds but Can Enhance Its Oversight Approach To Promote Effective Stewardship
What We Looked AtThe Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with $10 billion to help airports deal with the public health emergency caused by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). FAA awarded $9.1 billion in grants to airports nationwide, using its existing Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to distribute the funds. Our objective for this self-initiated audit was to assess whether FAA’s policies and procedures for awarding and overseeing CARES Act grants are sufficient to protect taxpayer interests. What We FoundLeveraging the AIP...
Oklahoma’s Administration of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund Grant
The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the State of Oklahoma (Oklahoma) designed and implemented awarding processes that ensured that the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER grant) was used to support local educational agencies (LEA) and institutions of higher education (IHE) that were most significantly impacted by the coronavirus or LEAs, IHEs, or other education-related entities within the State that were deemed essential for carrying out emergency educational services; and monitoring processes to ensure that subgrantees used GEER grant funds in accordance with...
Tarzana Accountant Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charge for Helping Client Fraudulently Obtain $1.2 Million COVID-Related Business Loan
A San Fernando Valley certified public accountant pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for helping a long-time client fraudulently obtain a $1.2 million COVID-19 business loan by knowingly preparing a false corporate tax return on the client’s behalf.
Lehigh Acres Couple Sentenced To Prison For COVID Relief Fraud
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Amber Rewis Bruey (35, Lehigh Acres) to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and illegal monetary transactions. Her husband and co-conspirator, Anthony James Bruey, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison for the same offenses. Mr. and Ms. Bruey had pleaded guilty on February 4, 2022, and March 16, 2022, respectively.
Hyattsville Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in a Cares-Act and Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving Over 600 Victims and Caused a Loss of at Least $2.7 Million
Sylvester Atekwane, age 32, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in relation to a CARES-Act unemployment insurance fraud scheme. As part of his guilty plea, Atekwane will be required to pay at least $250,000 in restitution.
Nigerian National Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for an Elder Fraud Scheme and Unrelated Cares Act Covid-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme
U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Oluwaseyi Akinyemi, a/k/a “Paddy Linkin”, a/k/a “Joseph Kadin”, age 35, of Hyattsville, Maryland, yesterday to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for two counts of mail fraud relating to a social media advanced fee fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims. Judge Chuang also ordered Akinyemi to pay $486,119.07 in restitution to his victims.
North Providence Man Sentenced for Defrauding COVID-Relief Program
PROVIDENCE – A North Providence man who was receiving COVID-relief unemployment benefits in Rhode Island, and fraudulently applied for and collected more than $20,000 in unemployment benefits from two other states, has been sentenced to eighteen months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
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.
Former Postal Service Mail Carrier Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Stealing Mail and Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Jobless Benefits
A former United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for scheming to steal more than $250,000 in unemployment insurance (UI) funds by making false claims of COVID-related job losses and for stealing UI debit cards intended for other people on his mail route.
South Florida Political Campaign Consultant Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Covid-19 Relief Program
Today, 42-year-old Royal Palm Beach, Florida resident Omar Smith pled guilty in South Florida federal court to lying on a coronavirus relief loan application and fraudulently obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to help small businesses financially survive the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding
Our objective was to assess the Postal Service’s justification for and use of funds received under the CARES Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and associated disclosure requirements.
Six Defendants Arrested on Federal Grand Jury Indictment Alleging They Fraudulently Obtained $2 Million in COVID-19 Jobless Benefits
Law enforcement today arrested six defendants charged in a federal grand jury indictment alleging they fraudulently obtained more than $2 million in COVID-19-related unemployment insurance (UI) benefits by submitting fraudulent applications in the names of others that falsely asserted, among other things, that the claimants were salon and barbershop workers rendered jobless because of the pandemic.
Rapper Who Bragged About COVID-Related Jobless Benefits Scam Agrees to Plead Guilty to Federal Fraud and Firearm Charges
A rapper who boasted in a YouTube music video about getting rich by committing pandemic-related unemployment benefits fraud has agreed to plead guilty to federal fraud and firearms charges, the Justice Department announced today.
Audit of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association
In this performance audit, we examined the reports Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association (MSA) collected from sheriffs’ offices, and we reviewed MSA’s policies and procedures as well as its budgetary language requirements. The audit found that MSA did not ensure the consistency and accuracy of cost-per-inmate reports and that MSA did not establish policies and procedures for coordinating and standardizing services and programs at the sheriffs’ offices.
Audit of the Department of Higher Education
The audit found that Department of Higher Education (DHE) did not ensure that all employees who were responsible for managing and administering Governor’s Emergency Education Relief funding completed annual cybersecurity awareness training. The audit also found that DHE did not meet with the Commonwealth Commitment Advisory Board (CCAB) to review the MassTransfer Commonwealth Commitment Program and did not provide reports or communications to the Board of Higher Education regarding CCAB’s review of the MassTransfer Commonwealth Commitment Program.
Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Folkston ICE Processing Center and Folkston Annex
The objective was to conduct an unannounced inspection of Folkston Processing Center and Folkston Annex to monitor compliance with select ICE detention standards.
Audit of the Bridgewater State University
In this performance audit, we reviewed Bridgewater State University's (BSU) use of funding from the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) received through the CARES Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). BSU received grant funding under two components of the ESF: direct funding from the United States Department of Education (US DOE), and funding from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (MDHE). The purpose of our audit was to determine whether BSU administered the federal assistance it received in accordance with the criteria established...
Audit of the Bunker Hill Community College
In this performance audit, we reviewed financial activity from federal funding provided by the CARES Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. In addition, we reviewed Bunker Hill Community College’s (BHCC) compliance with the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth’s guidance on revisions to its internal control plan to address operational changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The audit found BHCC did not accurately record and report the institutional portion of Higher Education Emergency Relief...
Audit of the Middlesex Community College
In this performance audit, we reviewed financial activity from federal funding provided by the CARES Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Middlesex Community College (MCC) received grant funding under two components of the CARES Act’s Education Stabilization Fund: direct funding from the United States Department of Education (US DOE) and funding from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (MDHE). The purpose of our audit was to determine whether MCC administered the CARES Act, CRRSAA, and ARP Act...
State of Illinois Department of Employment Security: Individual Nonshared Proprietary Fund Financial Statements For the Year Ended June 30, 2021
The audit of the accompanying financial statements of the State of Illinois, Department of Employment Security Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund was performed by RSM US LLP for the year ended June 30, 2021. Based on their audit, the auditors expressed a disclaimer of opinion on the Department's Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund financial statements. The auditors identified three matters involving the Department's internal controls over financial reporting that they considered to be material weaknesses. Further, the auditors identified three noncompliance matters.
MorseLife Nursing Home Health System Agrees to Pay $1.75 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations for Facilitating COVID-19 Vaccinations of Ineligible Donors and Prospective Donors
The Justice Department announced today that MorseLife Health System Inc. (MorseLife) has agreed to pay the United States $1.75 million to resolve its potential liability under the False Claims Act for facilitating COVID-19 vaccinations for hundreds of individuals ineligible to participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program (LTC PPP), a program specifically designed to vaccinate long-term care facility (LTCF) residents and staff when doses of COVID-19 vaccine were in limited supply at the beginning of the CDC COVID-19...
Wenham Man Charged with COVID-19 Pandemic Fraud Scheme
BOSTON – A Wenham man was charged today in connection with a scheme to obtain Paycheck Protection Program funds made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act by submitting false applications.
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.
Audit of the Massachusetts Cultural Council
We found that Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) did not verify artists’ eligibility prior to issuing grants totaling $1,456,000 from the MCC's COVID-19 pandemic relief funding. We also found that MCC’s Internal Control Plan was not updated with a COVID-19 component. Additionally, the OSA found that MCC did not ensure all employees completed the required annual cybersecurity awareness training.
South Florida Health Care Clinic Owners, Employees Sentenced for Roles in Multiple Fraud Schemes
A federal district judge in Miami sentenced the last of five defendants for his role in a health care fraud scheme operated out of a physical therapy clinic in Doral.