Salt Lake City, Utah – Robert James Waff, 50, of Sacramento, California, faced a year and a half behind bars after being sentenced for his role in a massive COVID-19 unemployment benefit fraud scheme. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell, also includes three years’ supervised release and an order to pay $114,066 in restitution.
Waff pleaded guilty in March 2024 to aiding and abetting wire fraud. He orchestrated a scheme to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD) by collecting unemployment benefits meant for those genuinely affected by COVID-19. Waff’s fraudulent activities, which also involved three coconspirators, resulted in a loss exceeding $100,000.
Between June 2020 and September 2020, Waff claimed to have lost his job due to the pandemic while living in Clearfield, Utah, and collected over $36,000 himself. His actions not only defrauded the system but also took money away from those in genuine need during the crisis.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah emphasized the severity of Waff’s crime, stating that his behavior took money from citizens who were genuinely struggling. Higgins vowed to prosecute anyone who defrauds the government and taxpayers.
Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that despite the end of the pandemic, the FBI will continue to investigate those who defraud federal programs for personal gain. Quentin Heiden, Special Agent in Charge of the Western Region at the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, also condemned Waff’s actions and praised the collaborative efforts of various agencies involved.
The investigation into Waff’s fraud was a joint effort by the FBI Salt Lake City Division and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (OIG). Assistant United States Attorney Brian Williams prosecuted the case. Those with information about similar fraudulent activities can report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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