Erick Woods, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Pennsylvania 2020

A scheme to defraud the United States has landed a New Kensington man in hot water. Erick Woods, a 23-year-old resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of time served (six months' incarceration) to be followed by a two-year term of supervised release by Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

Woods, who was found guilty of conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, specifically mail fraud related to pandemic unemployment benefits, was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,910.00.

PITTSBURGH - A scheme to defraud the United States has landed a New Kensington man in hot water. Erick Woods, a 23-year-old resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to commit offense against the United States, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

The scheme, which took place from June 2020 and continued until July 2020 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, involved Woods knowingly and willfully conspiring to commit mail fraud related to pandemic unemployment benefits.

According to court documents, Woods was part of a larger conspiracy that sought to deceive the government and obtain undeserved benefits. The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, uncovered evidence of Woods' involvement in the scheme.

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin J. Risacher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Woods' sentence marks the latest development in a case that highlights the importance of protecting against pandemic-related scams.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/new-kensington-man-sentenced-time-served-conspiring-commit-fraud