Zakria Hussain, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Maryland 2021

GREENBELT, MD – Zakria Hussain, 28, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, admitted in federal court to a brazen scheme that ripped off the CARES Act unemployment insurance system to the tune of $3.5 million. The guilty plea, announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, marks a significant development in a case that exposed vulnerabilities in the Maryland Department of Labor’s (MD-DOL) claims process.

Hussain pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to the plea agreement, the fraud spanned from at least March 2021 through August 2022. He wasn’t working alone. A network of co-conspirators, including insiders at the company contracted to manage unemployment claims for MD-DOL, allegedly facilitated the massive theft. Hussain personally profited from UI claims exceeding $550,000, but less than $1.5 million, and brazenly used debit cards belonging to identity theft victims to siphon off the stolen funds.

The operation hinged on access. Bryan Nushawn Ruffin, 27, of Woodbridge, Virginia, and Kiara Smith, 27, of Fort Washington, Maryland, both employees of Company 1 – a professional support services provider for MD-DOL – provided Hussain and his crew with keys to the kingdom: access to non-public UI data and databases. They allegedly altered existing claims, changing contact information, passwords, and payment methods, all to redirect funds into accounts controlled by the fraudsters. The co-conspirators exploited at least six identity theft victims in the process.

The MD-DOL was operating in the dark, believing it was disbursing benefits to legitimate applicants. In reality, the funds were flowing to accounts opened and controlled by Hussain and his associates. They didn’t just change existing claims; they uploaded fraudulent documents, removed fraud alerts, and certified weeks to maximize payouts. This wasn’t a simple hack; it was an inside job leveraging legitimate access for criminal gain.

Hussain faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud conspiracy, in addition to a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for the aggravated identity theft charge. Several other co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing, including Ahmed Hussain, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, aka “Oso.” Lawrence Nathanial Harris, 31, of Temple Hills, Maryland, aka “Manman” and “Biggbank,” and Terry Chen, 25, of Bowie, Maryland, aka “Mike Livingston” and “2Trunt Up” are still slated for trial. Remember, federal sentencing guidelines are just that – guidelines. The judge ultimately determines the penalty.

This case is being prosecuted by the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force, one of five nationwide teams established by the Department of Justice to combat COVID-19 fraud. The CARES Act, intended to provide a lifeline to Americans struggling through the pandemic, instead became a target for opportunistic criminals like Hussain and his crew. Hussain’s sentencing is scheduled for December 19th at 10 a.m. – a date that could determine the fate of a man who exploited a national crisis for personal enrichment.”

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

White Collar Crime

Jeffrey G. Brookshire, Violating 42 U.S.C. § 6928(d)(2)(A), North Carolina 2022

Jan 20, 2022

White Collar Crime

Aquiles Martinez, Securities Fraud, New York 2019

Jan 15, 2019

White Collar Crime

David Marshall Haggard, Sr., Violations of Pretreatment Prohibitions, Kentucky 2005

May 20, 2005

White Collar Crime

Ardila Zambrano, Healthcare Fraud, Florida 2003

Jan 15, 2003