Jodi Drygula, Pandemic-Related Unemployment Insurance Fraud, New York 2024

ALBANY, NEW YORK – A shocking case of pandemic-related unemployment insurance fraud has come to light, with Amsterdam resident Jodi Drygula, age 52, and Las Vegas man Anthony Camou, age 45, being charged with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

According to the indictment, Drygula and Camou fraudulently obtained pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits in the names of three people, resulting in a whopping $250,000 in losses for the New York State Department of Labor.

The indictment alleges that the duo committed the crimes from July 2020 through September 2021. Drygula appeared before United States Magistrate Christian F. Hummel in Albany on August 27, 2024, and was ordered released with conditions. Camou also appeared before United States Magistrate Daniel J. Albregts in the District of Nevada on September 13, 2024, and was similarly released with conditions.

The mail fraud and conspiracy 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case, which is being investigated by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the New York State Inspector General.

In related news, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force in May 2021 to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. If you suspect someone of attempting to commit pandemic-related fraud, you can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

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