BOSTON, Massachusetts – In a shocking turn of events, a Dudley man has been caught red-handed in a scheme to fraudulently obtain and misuse COVID-19-related unemployment assistance. Norman Higgs, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy on an unspecified date.
According to officials, Higgs conspired with others to submit fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims using stolen identifying information of other individuals. The PUA payments were directed into bank accounts controlled by Higgs and others, who used the funds for their personal benefit, including to pay off credit card debt and to fund digital currency and online retail brokerage accounts.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). PUA, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, provides unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for other types of unemployment benefits.
Higgs and his accomplices obtained over $450,000 in proceeds from over 85 fraudulent PUA claims using stolen identities. 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.
Norman Higgs will be sentenced on December 17, 2021, before U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris. The case was charged in May 2021, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance provided assistance in the investigation.
The authorities are urging anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 to report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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