Jasonn Gonzales, Mail Fraud and Identity Theft, New Mexico 2014

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – In a shocking turn of events, Jasonn Gonzales, 41, an accountant from Velarde, New Mexico, was arraigned today on a federal indictment alleging conspiracy, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges arising out of a scheme to defraud the federal and state unemployment insurance system.

Gonzales, who was arrested on April 24, 2014, entered a not guilty plea to the indictment and remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 2, 2014.

The six-count indictment, filed on March 26, 2014, charges Gonzales and co-defendant Gerald Archuleta, 43, of Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud in furtherance of a scheme to defraud the federal and state Unemployment Insurance System in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado of money by false and fraudulent pretenses.

Counts 2 through 5 of the indictment charge the two men with mail fraud, and Count 6 charges Gonzales alone with aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, the federal and state Unemployment Insurance System seeks to lessen the effects of unemployment through payments made to claimants (laid-off workers) on a weekly basis while the claimants seek employment. The unemployment insurance program is administered on behalf of the federal government by state workforce agencies in each state.

The indictment alleges that between 2009 and 2012, Gonzales and Archuleta schemed to defraud the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment of more than $1,356,000 by making false and fraudulently claims for unemployment benefits in the names of real people.

If convicted, Gonzales and Archuleta each face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the conspiracy charge and each of the five mail fraud charges. If convicted on the aggravated identity fraud charge, Gonzales faces a two-year mandatory prison sentence to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the conspiracy and mail fraud charges.

Archuleta has yet to be arrested and is considered a fugitive.

This case was investigated by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Frauds Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara C. Neda.

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