LOS ANGELES – An Inglewood woman is facing federal charges after authorities allege she swindled over $1.3 million in pandemic unemployment relief funds.
Selena Stewart, 45, was arrested and arraigned on Wednesday, accused of filing more than 100 fraudulent unemployment applications under stolen identities. The Justice Department claims the scheme targeted individuals including California state prisoners.
According to the DOJ, Stewart, along with co-defendants Toby Brazier and Tony Queen, submitted false UI applications stating they were affected by COVID-19. They provided fake addresses and income information, falsely claiming eligibility for benefits. The trio is accused of causing losses exceeding $1.3 million.
Brazier and Queen face similar charges, while Queen is scheduled to appear in court next week. Brazier remains a fugitive.
Stewart pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, with a trial date set for August 26. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in federal prison on mail fraud counts alone.
The investigation is being led by the U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General and the California Employment Development Department. The public is encouraged to report any suspected COVID-19 relief fraud to the DOJ’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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