NORFOLK, Va. – In a shocking turn of events, a Portsmouth man was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for engaging in a financial fraud scheme and gang activity after a shooting led to his discovery.
Marquell Lamont Moon, 31, a member of the Crips gang, fired approximately 27 rounds at a victim while the victim’s 3-year-old child was with him on May 2021. At least one of the rounds struck the victim’s left hand.
Law enforcement in Chesapeake later pursued Moon, who attempted to flee in a vehicle at high speed but crashed into a residence, fled the vehicle, and discarded a black backpack and other objects as he ran. Law enforcement recovered $8,275.66 and a stolen .45 semiautomatic handgun from Moon’s vehicle.
Moon was previously convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and forging credit cards. As a previously convicted felon, Moon cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Law enforcement also recovered evidence that Moon was engaged in a financial fraud scheme. Among the items recovered from Moon’s vehicle and backpack were credit and bank cards, a card embossing machine, a notebook detailing the fraudulent scheme, and correspondence with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC).
A total of 34 cards were either in another person’s name or there was no name associated with the card. There were also 28 blank debit/credit cards with no identifying information on the magnetic strip. Moon fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits that had been expanded and initiated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moon unlawfully obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of 10 individuals and used that information to fraudulently apply to VEC for unemployment insurance benefits totaling $112,633. The notebook detailed the steps for committing fraudulent requests and documenting the PII of the individuals whose identities Moon used to apply for the funds.
In addition to applying for benefits in the victims’ names, Moon used VEC’s online portal to enter weekly re-certifications attesting that the applicants were ready and willing to work during the week and actively seeking employment. One of the identity theft victims could not have been willing to work during the week and actively seeking employment because he was deceased. Another victim was not willing to work during the week and actively seeking employment because he was retired.
Moon is currently incarcerated for malicious wounding. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton D. LaForge and Amanda L. Cheney.
A copy of the press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Related Federal Cases
- Jeffrey Phares, Wire Fraud, West Virginia 2023 · Alabama
- Jeffrey Phares, Wire Fraud, West Virginia 2023 · Alabama
- Rodriguez Sentenced to 10 Years for Financial Fraud, Philadelphia P… · New York
- Sark Wire Corporation, PPP Fraud, Albany NY, 2023 · New York
- James Pavlounis, Social Security Disability Benefits Fraud, New York 2023 · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News