Daniel Satow, Mail Fraud, West Virginia 2023

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Wood County man has been charged with mail fraud after allegedly obtaining unemployment and COVID-19 benefits under false pretenses.

Daniel Satow, 33, of Davisville, pleaded guilty to mail fraud in federal court, admitting to unlawfully obtaining unemployment benefits, including supplementary funds provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Satow applied for unemployment compensation on December 20, 2020, claiming he had not been gainfully employed since September 9, 2020, and that the coronavirus pandemic prevented him from working. However, court documents and statements made in court revealed that Satow was employed at the time of his application.

Satow’s fraudulent application was approved, and he received a debit card loaded with unemployment compensation benefits through the mail at his Davisville residence on January 5, 2021. He used the debit card to make personal purchases, despite knowing he had obtained the benefits fraudulently.

Additionally, Satow continued to access the WorkForce West Virginia website for 26 consecutive weeks, falsely certifying that he remained entitled to unemployment compensation benefits. WorkForce West Virginia relied on Satow’s false answers and loaded additional benefits onto the debit card weekly, which included supplementary funds provided by the FPUC program.

Satow faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. He also owes $21,238 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement, commending the investigative work of the WorkForce West Virginia Integrity Section and the Litigation Financial Analyst with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided for a temporary emergency increase in unemployment compensation benefits, referred to as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC). The program is administered by the states but is funded in part by the federal government.

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