Teshawnda Knight, COVID-Relief Fraud, Massachusetts 2024

BOSTON – A shocking case of pandemic relief fraud has come to light in Massachusetts, with a Malden woman being sentenced to prison for her role in the scam.

Teshawnda Knight, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Knight was also ordered to pay $105,250 in restitution and forfeiture. The sentencing comes after Knight pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in July 2024.

The charges against Knight stem from her submission of three Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) applications and related weekly certifications that contained false information and fraudulent documents, two in Massachusetts and one in Indiana. The scheme allowed Knight to receive a total of $105,250 in fraudulently obtained PUA benefits, spanning from April 2020 to August 2021.

Knight’s arrest was part of a larger operation that took down over 40 members of the Heath Street Gang, who were charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms charges, and financial frauds, including COVID-related fraud.

The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.

Knight’s sentencing serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit the pandemic relief efforts for personal gain. The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established in May 2021, continues to work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those responsible for pandemic-related fraud.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline or submitting a complaint form.

Defendant: Teshawnda Knight
Crime: Wire fraud
City and State: Malden, Massachusetts
Arrest Date: February 2024
Sentence: 18 months in prison, 3 years supervised release, $105,250 restitution and forfeiture
Dollar Amount: $105,250

Related Federal Cases