Baltimore, Maryland – A Florida man who stole over $170,000 in Covid-19 unemployment insurance benefits has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison.
Christopher Guy, 30, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher ordered Guy to pay $176,970 in restitution.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division; and Chief Gregory Der of the Howard County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, from May 26, 2020, to August 5, 2020, Guy and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent applications, using the personal information of identity theft victims, claiming unemployment benefits to which they were not entitled.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to assist individuals experiencing financial distress as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The CARES Act established the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), which provided federal funds to state agencies responsible for the administration of unemployment benefits.
Guy and his co-conspirators used the debit cards to withdraw money and to conduct retail transactions. For example, between July 27 and August 5, 2020, Guy conducted fraudulent transactions using debit cards in the names of at least seven identity theft victims and funded with unemployment compensation, including FPUC funds.
A search of Guy’s vehicle by Howard County Police Department officers recovered $1,500 in cash, four debit cards issued in names other than Guy’s, multiple electronic devices, and a room key from a hotel in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
A search warrant was obtained for Guy’s hotel room and officers recovered 13 additional debit cards issued in various names, additional electronic devices, receipts from retail purchases, and $11,619 in cash.
DOL-OIG agents obtained surveillance images that showed Guy using the debit cards funded with fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits at ATMs within a mile of the hotel where he was staying.
12 of the debit cards that were used in these transactions were recovered from Guy or his hotel room on August 5, 2020.
A forensic examination of the electronic devices seized from Guy and his hotel room revealed internet searches and browsing history relating to the scheme.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to assist individuals experiencing financial distress as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Related Federal Cases
- Richard Shusterman, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Maryland 2024 · New York
- Blosser, Federal Wire Fraud, Maryland 2023 · North Carolina
- Hunter Haithcock, Wire Fraud, Maryland 2024 · North Carolina
- Rodney Burton, Wire-Fraud Conspiracy, Maryland 2024 · New York
- Nicolae Gindac, Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud, Maryland 2021 · New York
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News