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William Cordor, Fraud & Identity Theft, Leicester MA, 2021
A Leicester man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly exploiting the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic to rake in fraudulent unemployment benefits and Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. William Cordor, 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. He was initially arrested on March 5, 2021, following an investigation into a widening scheme targeting pandemic relief programs.
According to charging documents, Cordor allegedly conspired with accomplices to steal identities and file bogus unemployment claims across multiple states, including Nevada. The payouts weren’t going to legitimate recipients; instead, they were funneled into prepaid debit cards obtained by the group. Law enforcement encountered Cordor on August 18, 2020, during a domestic violence incident, where they discovered a stash of approximately 21 prepaid debit cards bearing the names of roughly 13 different individuals. A subsequent search of his computer and cell phone reportedly yielded further evidence linking him to the fraudulent operation.
The alleged scheme didn’t stop at unemployment fraud. Cordor is also accused of using stolen identities to fraudulently apply for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster loans from the SBA, again directing the funds to prepaid debit cards. This double-dip into federal assistance programs demonstrates a calculated effort to profit from a national crisis, authorities say. The U.S. Secret Service, along with the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, led the investigation.
Interestingly, Cordor seemingly attempted to mitigate the damage *before* the Nevada claims were filed. In May 2020, he reportedly admitted to federal agents that he had fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits from Massachusetts, and voluntarily surrendered $79,000 from his bank account – proceeds from that earlier fraud. However, this admission didn’t prevent him from allegedly continuing the scheme with the fraudulent claims filed in Nevada just months later in July 2020.
If convicted, Cordor could face a lengthy prison sentence. The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud each carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Adding to that, the aggravated identity theft charges mandate a minimum two-year consecutive sentence, one year of supervised release, and another $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell, Special Agent in Charge Michael Mikulka of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Frederick J. Regan of the U.S. Secret Service, Leicester Police Chief Kenneth Antanavica, and Marlboro Police Chief David Giorgi. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy is prosecuting the case. It’s critical to remember that these are allegations, and Cordor is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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