Lawrence Lawson, 41, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced on March 15, 2022, to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $355,849 in restitution for his role in a conspiracy that fraudulently obtained COVID-19 pandemic unemployment insurance benefits.
Lawson pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme, which involved recruiting co-conspirators and other individuals to file pandemic unemployment insurance benefit claims on their behalf in exchange for a portion of the proceeds received.
According to court records, from May through November of 2020, Lawson would recruit co-conspirators and other individuals to file pandemic unemployment insurance benefit claims on their behalf in exchange for a portion of the proceeds received.
These individuals then provided Lawson with their personal identifying information, and Clifton would file the claims on their behalf from her residence in Willoughby, Ohio.
Clifton submitted claims through the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) and other State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, Arizona, and California.
As a result of the scheme, ODJFS and other SWAs suffered a loss of approximately $355,849.
Lawson was charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. He was sentenced to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $355,849 in restitution.
Lawson’s co-conspirators, including Cierra Clifton, Emanuel Smith, Terrance Jones, Quantez Lawson, Charles Moore, and Mark Dailey, have also been sentenced in this matter. Cierra Clifton was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to pay $355,849 in restitution, while Emanuel Smith was sentenced to 17 months in prison and ordered to pay $23,783 in restitution.
Lawrence Lawson’s sentencing highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their role in fraudulent schemes that harm innocent people and damage the economy.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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