Chicago Scammer Gets 4.5 Years for Pandemic Benefit Heist

A 35-year-old Chicago man has been handed a 4.5-year prison sentence for his role in a brazen pandemic unemployment benefits scam that saw him raking in thousands of dollars at the expense of innocent victims.

Christian Matthews, 35, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced in federal court to 54 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution.

The scheme, which targeted the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, saw Matthews use stolen personal identifying information to file fake claims for benefits in states including Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.

According to court documents, Matthews purchased the stolen information online, including Social Security numbers, and then used it to create fictitious businesses and obtain mailing addresses from companies that rent shared office space.

He then used the stolen identities to file claims for pandemic-related unemployment benefits, which were sent to multiple business locations, including an office building in Pittsburgh, where Matthews would retrieve and use the benefits.

Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, with United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan commending the United States Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Findlay Township Police Department for their role in the investigation that led to Matthews’ successful prosecution.

“This sentence sends a clear message that those who seek to exploit the pandemic for personal gain will be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Olshan.

Matthews’ sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies who worked together to bring him to justice.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program was created to provide economic support to individuals who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.