A Richmond man has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for his role in a scheme that defrauded state unemployment systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in over $300,000 in losses to taxpayers. Residents in Maryland and California were directly impacted as funds meant to support unemployed individuals were diverted through fraudulent claims.
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Alonzo Brown, 27, was sentenced in Greenbelt, Maryland, to 45 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $310,428.08 in restitution and forfeit any assets tied to the fraud. Prosecutors revealed that Brown and his co-conspirators, Michael Cooley and Isiah Lewis, used personal information from more than 60 victims to file fraudulent unemployment claims in Maryland and California, exploiting systems set up under the CARES Act.
The group operated from at least June 2020 through March 2021, using anonymous email accounts to file the claims and avoid detection. While the scheme targeted over $800,000 in potential benefits, the conspirators successfully received more than $300,000. Cooley, also from Maryland, was previously sentenced to over seven years in federal prison for his role.
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The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, which targets large-scale relief fraud across the country. These interagency teams were created to identify and prosecute individuals and organizations that exploited pandemic relief programs for personal gain. Federal officials continue to encourage the public to report suspected fraud through the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline or online portal.
Residents are reminded that pandemic-era assistance programs were funded by taxpayer dollars, and fraud undermines the availability of legitimate aid. Recovering stolen funds remains a priority for federal prosecutors, and additional charges in related cases remain possible.
Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland press release.
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