⏱ 2 min read
Phoebe Trinh, a 33-year-old woman from Kapolei, Hawaii, was sentenced to 2 years in prison for her role in a scheme to defraud the government of unemployment insurance and pandemic relief program funds. Between May 19, 2020, and October 20, 2020, Trinh submitted false claims for unemployment insurance benefits, including claims for herself and an employee of her family’s restaurant. She repeatedly certified that she was unemployed and not receiving income, despite knowing these claims were false.
Trinh’s actions were a blatant attempt to exploit the system and take advantage of the government’s efforts to provide relief to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program was created to provide emergency unemployment payments to workers who were ineligible for traditional state unemployment insurance benefits. However, Trinh’s actions undermined the integrity of the program and resulted in a significant financial loss to the government.
As a result of her actions, Trinh was ordered to forfeit $36,265 and pay $78,474 in restitution. Her sentence serves as a warning to others who would seek to exploit the system for personal gain. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the US Department of Justice.
The sentence handed down to Trinh reflects the seriousness of her crimes and the need to protect the integrity of government programs. As the country continues to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, it is essential that those who seek to exploit the system are held accountable for their actions.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Hawaii
- Location: HI
- Source: DOJ Press Release
