A Stoneham woman has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance using stolen identities.
Lilly Nguyen, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance.
Nguyen participated in a scheme to submit fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims using the stolen personally identifiable information of others.
The investigation connected Nguyen to more than $250,000 in unemployment claims between April and December 2020.
Nguyen is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2021. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentenced imposed, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Nguyen’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations, and Nguyen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related Federal Cases
- Maxime Maiga, Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Greenbelt M… · Washington
- Viviane Cazeau, Bank Fraud Scheme, Massachusetts, 2023 · New Hampshire
- Delcin Belarminio Soto Baez, Identity Theft Scheme, MA, 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Ambulai R. Sheku, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Theft of Governm… · Rhode Island
- Robert Evans, Stolen Identity Refund Fraud, MA, 2023 · New York
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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