Sacramento Man Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison for Covid-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme
Roosevelt Gulley, 42, of Sacramento, has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $575,425 in restitution for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft related to unemployment insurance fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sentencing comes after Gulley pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025. According to court documents, between July and September 2020, Gulley used personally identifiable information of others to electronically submit fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits to the California Employment Development Department.
The claims falsely stated that the beneficiaries were self-employed, and Gulley knew the claimants were not eligible for unemployment insurance. After benefits cards were issued, he withdrew funds at various ATMs.
Gulley also used personally identifiable information from at least two victims without their knowledge to file fraudulent benefits applications and obtain thousands of dollars in benefits. Over the course of his scheme, Gulley attempted to obtain more than $1.5 million and actually received more than $500,000 in fraudulent benefits.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in California announced the sentencing, stating that Gulley’s actions were a clear exploitation of a national crisis for personal gain. The office remains committed to protecting the integrity of federal relief programs and ensuring that those who commit fraud are brought to justice.
The investigation into Gulley’s scheme was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General’s COVID Fraud Unit, and California EDD’s Fraud Division with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service.
Mandatory Facts
Defendant: Roosevelt Gulley
Criminal Charges: Wire fraud and aggravated identity theft
City and State: Sacramento, California
Exact Date: April 24, 2023 (sentencing date)
Sentence: Four years and six months in prison, $575,425 in restitution
Dollar Amounts: $575,425 (restitution), $1.5 million (attempted fraud), $500,000 (fraudulent benefits received)
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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