(CBS DETROIT) – Ten people have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in an unemployment benefits fraud scheme in nine states, including Michigan, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Two people, Marcellus Dunham, 23, of Redford, and Jaylin Davis, 23, of Oak Park, pleaded guilty to engaging in aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to engage in wire fraud. Dunham was sentenced to eight years and six months and Davis was sentenced to four years and six months.
Daniel Holt, 22, of Wixom; Day’on Holt, 23, of Detroit; Daveontae White, 25, of Detroit; Armani Haller, 23, of Sterling Heights; Laron Stroud, 24, of Detroit; Jaylin Qualls, 24, of Harper Woods; Cheikh Sene, 24, of Southfield; and Deleonte Rogers, 24, of Detroit, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud.
Daniel Holt, White and Haller were sentenced to two years. Day’on Holt was sentenced to two years and eight months; Stroud was sentenced to one year and six months; Qualls was sentenced to one year; and Sene and Rogers were sentenced to three years.
All ten people are collectively ordered to pay $4,856,471 in restitution.
Federal officials say the defendants filed nearly 700 unemployment claims between April 2020 and August 2021 in Michigan and eight other states, including California and Arizona. The money was deposited into prepaid cards used to withdraw money from an ATM.
Officials say the individuals were captured on camera making more than 1,500 visits to the ATM, withdrawing more than $4.8 million.
“We remain committed to prosecuting those who choose to enrich themselves by stealing public funds intended for members of our community who are in genuine need,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in a statement.
