Veronica Mullins, Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Fraud, Virginia 2020

ABINGDON, Va. – A Southwest Virginia woman, who collaborated with more than 30 others in a scheme to cheat the government out of more than $499,000 in unemployment benefits, pleaded guilty this week to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

According to court documents, over the course of nine months, Veronica Mullins, 48, of Pound, VA, conspired with Leelynn Danielle Chytka, Gregory Tackett, Jeffery Tackett, and others to commit fraud against the United States in connection with the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits on behalf of at least 37 individuals via the Virginia Employment Commission [VEC] website, with a total actual loss to the United States of at least $499,000.

Specifically, in June 2020, Mullins approached Chytka and asked her for help with filing for fraudulent unemployment benefits. In addition to illegally attempting to gain unentitled benefits for herself, Mullins also provided the personally identifiable information for other individuals, including those of her children, each of whom was also ineligible to receive pandemic-related benefits. When questioned by investigators, Mullins lied about her knowledge of the larger scheme and her role in it.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement. Chytka, the mastermind behind the scheme, was sentenced to nine years in prison. To date, the following co-conspirators have been sentenced as part of the investigation:

Jimmy Barnette- 24 months
George Buckles- 30 months
Joshua Carroll- 24 months
Darrell Davis- 18 months
Melinda Davis – 18 months
Misty Evans – 12 months
Eugene Grizzle- 12 months
Ryan Grizzle – 5 months
Melissa Hayes – 24 months
Jacob Hicks – 30 months
Timothy Hileman- 30 months
Ajay Johnson – 30 months
John C. Johnson Jr. – 18 months
Randall Johnson – 24 months
Jared Mitchell – 24 months
Curtis E. Mullins – 12 months
Eric B. Mullins – 30 months
Steven J. Mullins – 27 months
Patrick Payne – 24 months
Jeremy Short – 27 months
Gregory Tackett – 108 months
Jeffery Tackett – 102 months
Larry Whited – 18 months
Jeffrey Wiseman – 24 months

The investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Murphy and Lena L. Busscher are prosecuting the case.

The Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.

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