Leicester Man Cops to Pandemic Fraud, Steals $79K

William Cordor, 26, of Leicester, Massachusetts, pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to running a brazen pandemic fraud scheme that exploited both unemployed Americans and federal relief programs. Cordor admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and four counts of aggravated identity theft—all tied to stolen identities and fraudulent claims during the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

Between May and October 2020, Cordor launched a multi-pronged fraud operation targeting pandemic relief funds. He filed dozens of fake Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims with the State of Nevada using the names, Social Security numbers, and personal data of unsuspecting third parties. Authorities confirmed he had no legal right to file on their behalf. Nevada flagged the claims as fraudulent and blocked the payouts—thwarting Cordor, but not stopping him.

Undeterred, Cordor pivoted to another scam: fraudulently obtaining Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Using stolen identities, he submitted false applications and secured a federally backed loan under lies. Once the money hit his account, he funneled it toward personal luxury—funding plane tickets, hotels, restaurants, shopping sprees, and entertainment during a vacation to Florida.

Even before the Nevada fraud attempt, Cordor was already on the feds’ radar. In May 2020, he surrendered $79,000 in proceeds from a separate unemployment fraud scheme in Massachusetts. That cash haul—seized from his bank account—was directly tied to stolen identities and phony claims filed in-state. His actions show a pattern of calculated exploitation during a national emergency.

Each count of wire fraud and conspiracy carries up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The aggravated identity theft charges add a mandatory two-year prison term—consecutive to any other sentence—plus a year of supervision and another $250,000 fine. A federal judge will determine Cordor’s final sentence under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The case was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell, Jonathan Mellone of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and Frederick J. Regan of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office. Leicester and Marlboro Police provided key support. Prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Danial Bennett. The DOJ’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established May 17, 2021, continues to hunt down scammers exploiting the pandemic. Tips can be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.