Miami Woman Indicted in Massive Unemployment Insurance Scam

Baltimore, MD – Tamika Nicole Jones, 33, of Miami, Florida, is facing a barrage of federal charges after a grand jury indicted her on 16 counts related to a brazen unemployment insurance (UI) benefits fraud scheme. Jones is accused of systematically stealing from state workforce agencies, including the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL), by impersonating victims and filing fraudulent claims.

The indictment, unsealed following Jones’s arrest in South Florida by agents with the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), details a scheme that exploited expanded UI programs launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs – the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and the Lost Wages Assistance Program – were designed to provide a lifeline to those impacted by the economic fallout, but were instead allegedly abused by Jones for personal gain.

According to prosecutors, between May 2020 and June 2021, Jones used stolen personal identifying information – including names, dates of birth, and Social Security Numbers – to submit bogus applications for UI benefits in Maryland and potentially other states. The MD-DOL relied on the information provided in these applications to determine eligibility, and once approved, benefits were typically distributed via debit cards.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, and Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the DOL-OIG’s National Capital Region, announced the indictment. The charges include eight counts of wire fraud, seven counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of mail fraud. If convicted, Jones faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the wire and mail fraud charges. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

While maximum penalties are severe, federal sentencing guidelines and other factors will ultimately determine the final sentence, to be handed down by a federal district court judge. It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is not a declaration of guilt; Jones is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is being prosecuted by the District of Maryland Strike Force, one of five nationwide teams established by the Department of Justice to combat COVID-19 fraud, particularly related to the CARES Act. These strike forces are focused on dismantling large-scale fraud schemes perpetrated by criminal organizations. Anyone with information about COVID-19 related fraud can report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5701.

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