Las Vegas Woman Accused of $170K Fraudulent Unemployment Scheme

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas woman was arrested and arraigned Wednesday in federal court for a 13-count indictment charging her with using over 40 stolen identities to collect $170,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits, according to United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich.

Danielle Lacharis Buck, 42, also known as ‘Danielle Lacharis Lakey,’ faces three counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of using an unauthorized access device, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. Trial is set for August 12, 2019, after U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman scheduled the date.

Trutanich revealed that from September 2010 to April 2019, Buck engaged in a scheme to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD). She fraudulently obtained personal information of unsuspecting individuals and electronically filed more than 50 false unemployment insurance claims using these identities. Bank of America then mailed her an electronic benefits payment debit card for the approved fraudulent claims.

The EDD, as the administrator of the federally funded unemployment insurance benefit program in California, was targeted by Buck’s scheme. If convicted, Buck could face up to 160 years in prison for her alleged crimes.

The investigation into Buck’s activities was conducted by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General and the California Employment Development Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tony Lopez is handling the prosecution.

As with all indictments, charges against Buck are allegations and she is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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