FRESNO, Calif. — The gritty tale of Fresno’s Garrett Scott Wheelen, 32, came to a close as he was sentenced to two years in prison for a daring fraud scheme that targeted the state’s unemployment benefits.
Wheelen’s audacity reached new heights when he conned California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) out of $27,664 through fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims. The defendant’s brazen tactics during the COVID-19 pandemic were fueled by a desire for quick cash.
Between August and November 2020, Wheelen exploited personally identifiable information (PII) to submit false unemployment insurance and PUA claims. His deceitful ploy included using employment details and mailing addresses that had no connection to the actual claimants. The EDD fell prey to his trickery, approving at least some of his fraudulent claims.
EDD’s approval triggered Bank of America to dispatch debit cards laden with unemployment benefits to an address under Wheelen’s control. But this wasn’t the end of Wheelen’s cunning plan. He stole mail from mailboxes, receptacles, and even broke into a mail truck in Fresno on Aug. 11, 2020, to bolster his illegal operations.
Wheelen’s criminal activities didn’t stop at stealing mail; he also harvested bankcards and checks for fraudulent use. On Sept. 4, 2020, law enforcement found him with stolen California State driver’s licenses, credit cards, and checks.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the California EDD’s Investigation Division, and the Reedley Police Department collaborated to bring Wheelen’s illegal activities to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv Sharma prosecuted the case with unwavering determination.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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