Hector J. Sanchez, Pandemic-Related Unemployment Fraud, New York 2020

Hector J. Sanchez, a 29-year-old Rensselaer County man, is at the center of a shocking case of pandemic-related unemployment fraud that has left authorities stunned. According to a recent indictment, Sanchez is accused of filing false unemployment insurance claims with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) between August and November 2020.

Sanchez allegedly used the personal identifying information of other individuals, which he obtained through social media, to file false claims. He then used debit cards linked to the false claims to obtain cash, goods, and services. The indictment charges Sanchez with six counts of mail fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.

Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon announced the indictment, which also revealed that Sanchez had obtained more than $80,000 in benefits from the false claims. The charges carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

The mail fraud charges also come with a mandatory term of two years in prison, to be imposed consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. Sanchez’s sentence will be determined by a judge based on the particular statute he is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations and the Albany Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Chisholm is prosecuting the case.

Sanchez appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing for September 14. The case is a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat pandemic-related fraud and the importance of vigilance in preventing such crimes.

Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form

Related Federal Cases