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California Mother and Daughter Team Sentenced for Jailhouse Unemployment Scam
FRESNO, Calif — In a brazen jailhouse scheme, a mother and daughter duo was sentenced to prison for submitting fake unemployment claims, worth nearly $250,000.
Makiah Miles, 30, of Compton, California, was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison, while Apryl Weston, 51, of Santa Maria, California, received a sentence of 5 months in prison and 5 months home detention for their roles in the scam, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Miles, who was an inmate at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, California, and Weston, her mother, worked together to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in the names of inmates and Miles’ own identity.
Between June and December 2020, Miles obtained the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of other inmates and sent that information to Weston, who then submitted the claims. The applications misrepresented the inmates’ and Miles’ work history and current availability for work, claiming they were previously employed as childcare providers, cosmetologists, hairdressers, and other occupations.
The scam was worth nearly $250,000 and was uncovered through an investigation by the FBI, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Investigative Services Unit, and the EDD. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, which combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief money.
Weston and Miles’ scheme highlights the ongoing threat of unemployment insurance fraud, which has been a major concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the economy continues to recover, it is essential that law enforcement and prosecutors remain vigilant in identifying and prosecuting those who attempt to exploit the system.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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