Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Finance

8 Georgians Defraud $30 Million in Unemployment Benefits

Georgia
8 Georgians were charged for defrauding $30 million in unemployment benefits. (Photo: WSB)

Eight Georgians were charged after they defraud $30 million in unemployment benefits from the Georgia Department of Labor.

Georgia

8 Georgians were charged for defrauding $30 million in unemployment benefits. (Photo: WSB)

Eight Georgians Defraud $30 Million

Eight Georgians are now facing charges after defrauding $30 million in unemployment benefits from the Georgia Department of Labor. Seven have been indicted already while one pleaded guilty to her role in the crime committed, according to an article published in Yahoo Finance.

The following are the accused persons:

  • Tyshion Nautese Hicks, 30 years old, of Vienna, Georgia
  • Shatara Hubbard, 34 years old, of Warner Robins, Georgia
  • Torella Wynn, 30 years old, of Cordele, Georgia
  • Macovian Doston, 29 years old, of Vienna
  • Kenya Whitehead, 35 years old, of Cordele
  • A’Darrion Alexander, 27 years old, of Warner Robins
  • Membrish Brown, 27 years old, of Vienna
  • Edith Nate Hicks, 45 years old, of Atlanta, Georgia

Court documents revealed that they filed more than 5,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims that resulted in at least $30 million in stolen benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ ALSO: $391 One-Time Payment For Each Eligible Child This December In Texas; Gov. Greg Abbott Confirms

How Did They Create Fake Accounts?

According to the Department of Justice, the accused Georgians created fake employers and fabricated lists of employees using stolen personally identifiable information from thousands of identity theft victims and filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims on the GaDOL website.

They were also alleged of stealing PII from different sources. It was also found that they paid Hicks, one of the defendants, to unlawfully obtain patients’ PII from the hospital’s database.

Charges They Will Face

Hicks, Hubbard, Wynn, Doston, Whitehead, Alexander, and Brown are each charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, Alexander is also charged with money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

READ ALSO: Biden Announces $36 Billion Rescue Package For A Pension Plan

Copyright © 2022 Pro Claimers. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by The Santa Clarita Valley.