Alan Ray, a 33-year-old undocumented individual, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to use over 100 victims’ identities (without their consent) to unlawfully submit fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits claims, totaling at least $934,129.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – According to court documents and admissions made in court, from March 2020 to late October 2020, Ray conspired with others to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, California Employment Development Department, and other state workforce agencies.
As part of the fraudulent scheme, Ray had the state workforce agencies mail debit cards — not in his name — containing unemployment benefits to addresses he had access to. In total, more than $934,129 in unemployment benefits was approved by the state workforce agencies, and at least $698,655 was withdrawn by Ray and his co-conspirators.
The fraud was discovered when Ray attempted to ship fraudulently-obtained debit cards from Las Vegas to his residence in Houston, Texas.
Ray pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess counterfeit and unauthorized access devices. U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan scheduled sentencing for February 4, 2022. Ray faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Los Angeles Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Fang is prosecuting the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Alan Rodrigues, Tax Fraud, Nevada 2004 · California
- Nevada Man, COVID-Relief Loan Fraud, Nevada 2023 · California
- Michael J. Moore, Tax Fraud & Identity Theft, Nevada 2026 · California
- Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, COVID-19 Fraud, California 2024 · Washington
- Frank Sherman, Unemployment Scam, Texas 2024 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: Nevada
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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