Jammy Alphonse, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud, Massachusetts 2020

BOSTON – Jammy Alphonse, 28, of Boston, is staring down a potential multi-decade prison sentence after being charged with a sprawling criminal enterprise involving pandemic unemployment fraud, identity theft, illegal firearms, and a significant fentanyl operation. Alphonse has agreed to plead guilty to a litany of federal offenses and has been held in custody since his August 2021 arrest following a shooting in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The feds allege Alphonse began exploiting the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in May 2020, conspiring to fraudulently claim Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. The scheme involved submitting claims under stolen identities, funneling the ill-gotten gains into accounts controlled by Alphonse and his accomplices. Investigators traced the fraudulent activity back to Alphonse’s Everett residence and other locations, painting a picture of a calculated effort to siphon off pandemic relief funds.

The fraud wasn’t Alphonse’s only hustle. In February 2021, he allegedly used another person’s name, Social Security number, and date of birth to rent an apartment in East Boston. He occupied the property for roughly six months before his arrest on the firearms charge. A subsequent search of the apartment turned up a loaded Glock model 43X, 47 rounds of ammunition, and a stash of over 40 grams of fentanyl – enough to kill thousands.

The charges against Alphonse are substantial. He faces up to 20 years for wire fraud conspiracy, five years for false representation of a Social Security number, and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft. Additionally, he’s looking at up to 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The most severe charge, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, carries a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years behind bars.

The case is the result of a collaborative effort between multiple federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Massachusetts State Police, the Boston Police Department, and the Cambridge Police Department. The investigation highlights the ongoing federal crackdown on pandemic-related fraud and the persistent threat of illegal firearms and narcotics in the Boston area.

Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane is prosecuting the case. A plea hearing date has not yet been set. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors. This case is part of the broader COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established by the Attorney General in May 2021, signaling a continued commitment to pursuing those who exploited the pandemic for personal gain.

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