FORT BRANCH, IN – A mother-daughter duo from Fort Branch, Indiana, are facing the consequences for their involvement in a sprawling fraud scheme that preyed on the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrea Renee Pytlinski, 40, and Rose Ann Azzarello, 61, were sentenced this week for their roles in a sophisticated operation run by a Nigerian fraud ring targeting state unemployment insurance programs.
The pair were initially arrested and charged with wire fraud in July 2020, after the Fort Branch Police Department received a complaint from Field and Main Bank in Evansville regarding suspicious activity. Investigators discovered Washington State unemployment benefits were being deposited into bank accounts held by Azzarello and Pytlinski, then quickly withdrawn and a portion funneled to an unknown third party. The scheme stretched back to May 2020, shortly after the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which expanded unemployment benefits.
Federal agents from the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Criminal Investigation quickly traced the funds, revealing a network of fraudulent activity exceeding $95,000. The CARES Act provision aimed to provide temporary relief to those who had exhausted regular benefits or were self-employed, but the Nigerian ring exploited the system, diverting funds intended for struggling Americans. Washington State was a primary target, but the investigation hinted at broader reach.
Pytlinski received an 18-month prison sentence, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $27,522 in restitution. Azzarello, her mother, received a 4-year supervised release sentence and a similar restitution order of $27,522. Both women participated in the wire fraud scheme for over a year, receiving and transmitting illicit funds via wire transfer and courier services. They profited by skimming a portion of the stolen benefits before the fraud was detected.
“The investigative work of our federal and local law enforcement partners is to be commended,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “They prevented funds designed to help struggling Americans during a very difficult time from being used by greedy, money hungry thieves, and assured these fraudsters would be held accountable.” The Secret Service highlighted its commitment to protecting the nation’s financial infrastructure, emphasizing the agency’s vigilance in combating COVID-19 related fraud.
Eric K. Reed, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office, affirmed, “Today’s sentencing illustrates the Secret Service’s commitment to protect the nation’s financial service infrastructure by vigorously investigating COVID-19 unemployment fraud.” Justin Campbell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, added that the agency views CARES Act fraud as a priority, recognizing the harm inflicted not only on the government but also on those legitimately in need of assistance. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the financial toll of pandemic-era fraud and the ongoing efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Lowell Gene “Bob” Hancher, Wire and Securities Fraud, IN, 2013 · Indiana
- John M. Bales, Bank Fraud Conspiracy, Texas, 2023 · South Carolina
- Mohamed Laye Dioubate, Credit Card Fraud, Beaumont TX, 2024 · Indiana
- Joseph J. Beccia, Mortgage Fraud Scheme, Parma OH, 2023 · Ohio
- Camille M. Harris, Property Fraud Scheme, North Carolina, 2023 · Indiana
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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