Former Maryland Contractor Admits to Bribery and Defrauding Unemployment Program

A Baltimore woman has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for authorizing fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits, defrauding the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) and the United States of over $250,000. The scheme, which involved facilitating payments to individuals not eligible for benefits, took place between June 2020 and November 2021, a period when enhanced unemployment programs were in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Natonia Johnson, 52, entered her guilty plea to one count of wire fraud in connection with this bribery scheme. Initially, Johnson assisted individuals in submitting fraudulent documents to support their unemployment claims and falsely attested to their self-employment status. As her involvement deepened, Johnson secured a contractor position at a company that staffed the MD-DOL’s unemployment call center. This role granted her access to the department’s internal unemployment insurance database.

Using this privileged access, Johnson manipulated the system to benefit co-conspirators. She removed flags and holds that identified individuals as ineligible for unemployment benefits. Furthermore, she backdated claims and processed additional payments for those who should not have received them. In return for these actions, Johnson received between $200 and $500 for each fraudulent claim she processed. The total amount defrauded from the MD-DOL through these actions exceeded $250,000. Unemployment insurance is a state and federal program designed to provide temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The pandemic saw significant expansions to eligibility and benefit amounts through programs like the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and Lost Wages Assistance Program. Eligibility is determined by information provided in online applications, including personal details and self-certification of unemployment status.

Johnson faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Her sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2026. This case is being prosecuted by the District of Maryland Strike Force, one of five such units established by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat fraud related to COVID-19 relief efforts, including those authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These strike forces are dedicated to identifying and prosecuting individuals and organizations involved in large-scale pandemic relief fraud.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland encourages anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 relief to report it. This can be done by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or by submitting a complaint through the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland.

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