Miami Woman Accused of $1.5M UI Fraud Scheme

Baltimore, Maryland – A Miami woman is in hot water after being indicted for a staggering $1.5 million unemployment insurance (UI) benefits fraud scheme. Tamika Nicole Jones, 33, of Miami, Florida, stands accused of swindling the state and federal governments out of millions through fraudulent UI claims.

The charges against Jones include eight counts of wire fraud, seven counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of mail fraud. The indictment was unsealed following her arrest in South Florida by agents from the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).

According to the federal grand jury, Jones is accused of using personal identifying information to submit fraudulent UI claims between May 2020 and June 2021. These claims were made on behalf of victim individuals whose identities were stolen. The scheme exploited expanded UI eligibility and increased benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Should she be convicted, Jones faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire and mail fraud. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison that runs consecutive to any other sentence. Actual sentences, however, are typically less than the maximum penalties, with a federal district court judge determining the final sentence.

The District of Maryland Strike Force, one of five strike forces nationwide, was established by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute large-scale pandemic relief fraud. The strike force focuses on criminal organizations and transnational actors responsible for stealing pandemic relief funds.

For more information about the Department’s response to the pandemic or to report any allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19, visit justice.gov/coronavirus. To report suspected fraud to the NCDF Hotline, call 866-720-5.”

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