NORFOLK, Va. – In a stark reminder of the criminal exploits during the COVID-19 pandemic, Raton J. Tharp, 37, and George Napoleon Cuffee Jr., 31, were each sentenced to prison for their roles in a fraudulent scheme that siphoned unemployment benefits meant for legitimate claimants.
Tharp, an inmate at Wallens Ridge State Prison at the time, and Cuffee, who was also incarcerated, conspired to apply for benefits using the personal information of other inmates. Tharp provided the details, while Cuffee exploited his outside status to file the fraudulent claims.
Cuffee, 31, of Chesapeake, Virginia, received a five-year and eight-month sentence after admitting to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $187,928. Tharp, now 37, faced a three-year and four-month term for his part in the scheme.
Between them, they successfully filed 14 claims using both inmate and non-inmate data, with Cuffee personally pocketing nearly $18,000, including payments he received while behind bars. Their deceptive practices included providing false addresses, phone numbers, email accounts, and fabricating employers like ‘Napoleon Homes’.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and federal agents announced the sentences following a successful prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt. The case highlights the ongoing threat to government programs during emergencies and the determination of law enforcement in cracking down on such crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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