A Rockford man was at the center of a massive scheme to defraud the government of over half a million dollars in unemployment benefits, according to a federal indictment.
ROBERT CARTER, 27, of Hampton, Ga., was charged with three counts of wire fraud for his alleged role in submitting false unemployment claims to the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance from June to August 2020.
The indictment alleges that Carter and others submitted claims for individuals who did not work or live in Maryland and were not entitled to benefits. The claims were sent from Homewood, Ill., and DeKalb, Ill., and the benefits were paid via debit cards and mailed to residences connected to Carter and others involved in the scheme.
Funds were then withdrawn from the debit cards at financial institutions and ATMs in Illinois, resulting in over $506,000 in unemployment benefits being paid out.
The CARES Act expanded states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act created several benefit programs, including the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program.
CARTER’s arraignment is set for May 14, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa A. Jensen in Rockford. Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. CARTER is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Related Federal Cases
- Husam Usama Tayeh, Wire Fraud, IL 2017 · Washington
- John J. Diehl Jr., Wire Fraud, Missouri 2024 · Nevada
- Elizabeth Lindsey Meredith, Mail and Wire Fraud, Missouri 2024 · Alabama
- Letitia James, Securities Fraud, New York 2023 · Washington
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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