VIENNA, GA – A brazen scheme to siphon off over $30 million in federal unemployment benefits during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has landed eight Georgians in federal court. Authorities allege the group fabricated employer information and pilfered the identities of thousands to file fraudulent claims with the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL), leaving legitimate claimants short while lining their own pockets.
The ringleader appears to be 30-year-old Tyshion Nautese Hicks, of Vienna, Georgia, along with six other co-conspirators: Shatara Hubbard, 34, of Warner Robins; Torella Wynn, 30, of Cordele; Macovian Doston, 29, of Vienna; Kenya Whitehead, 35, of Cordele; A’Darrion Alexander, 27, of Warner Robins; and Membrish Brown, 27, of Vienna. The eighth defendant, Edith Nate Hicks, 45, of Atlanta, allegedly played a crucial role by exploiting her position at an Atlanta-area health care network. According to investigators, Edith Nate Hicks unlawfully accessed patient databases to steal Personally Identifiable Information (PII) – names, addresses, social security numbers – selling access to the stolen data for payments through apps like Chime, Venmo and CashApp.
The operation wasn’t just about stealing identities; it was a systematic effort to exploit a system overwhelmed by pandemic-related job losses. Investigators say the group created fake employers, then filed over 5,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims using the stolen PII. The stolen benefits weren’t deposited into bank accounts, but loaded onto prepaid debit cards mailed to addresses in and around Cordele and Vienna. Edith Nate Hicks already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud on November 15th, admitting to stealing PII from at least 1,600 patients. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years.
The feds are coming down hard. Tyshion Nautese Hicks, Hubbard, Wynn, Doston, Whitehead, Alexander, and Brown are all indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence. Adding to their legal woes, Tyshion Nautese Hicks and Doston also face charges of aggravated identity theft – a mandatory two-year sentence *on top* of any other punishment. Alexander is further accused of money laundering, with a potential 20-year sentence for that charge alone. This isn’t a slap on the wrist; the Justice Department is sending a clear message about exploiting the pandemic for personal gain.
The investigation was a multi-agency effort, involving the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG), U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Albany, Georgia Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Resident Agent in Charge Clint Bush of the USSS Albany office played a key role in unraveling the scheme. The scale of the fraud points to a sophisticated operation, and authorities are likely to investigate whether additional individuals were involved.
A federal district court judge will ultimately decide the fate of these defendants, considering sentencing guidelines and other factors. But one thing is certain: this alleged $30 million scheme ripped off funds intended to help struggling Georgians, and those responsible will face serious consequences. This case underscores the vulnerability of unemployment systems to fraud and the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure aid reaches those who truly need it.
Related Federal Cases
- Angela Miller and Lee Lynwood, Tax Return Fraud, Georgia, 2008 · Georgia
- Four Individuals Face Federal Oxycodone Fraud Charges, Georgia, 2023 · Georgia
- Eijroghene Okuma, $10M Investment Fraud, Atlanta GA, 2023 · Georgia
- Daniqua Clark, Mail Stream Theft and COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Atlanta… · Georgia
- Sark Wire Corporation, PPP Fraud, Albany NY, 2023 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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