17 people charged for stealing $341K in pandemic relief funds from Virginia inmates: DOJ
DICKENSON COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — In May a federal grand jury in Virginia indicted 17 people for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits, according to the Department of Justice.
The DOJ said the group stole a total of $341,205 in pandemic relief money.
“The COVID-19 global pandemic significantly influenced the world economy and caused increased unemployment and jobless claims throughout our country,” said United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh. “Many Virginians who lost their jobs due to the pandemic were able to endure because of the CARES Act. However, some cheated the system and diverted resources intended to help those most affected by the pandemic, and my Office remains committed to not only recovering fraudulently obtained funds, but also vigorously prosecuting those responsible.”
The DOJ said it all started back in March 2020, when three people named Josef Brown, Jonathan Webb, and Crystal Shaw started scheming. Officials said they gathered birth dates, social security numbers, and other personal identification of people who were incarcerated at Haysi Regional Jail in Dickenson County. Then they filled out unemployment claim forms for each of the inmates, the DOJ said.
"In all, the defendants stole $341,205 in pandemic relief to which they were not entitled," The DOJ said.
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FBI Richmond Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador said his department is determined to help bring criminals to the light.
“These defendants took advantage of a global pandemic that caused immense suffering across the country and exploited relief programs intended to help those in dire need. We remain committed to holding criminals accountable for their crimes,” Meador said. “We are proud to have worked this investigation with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to bring justice to these victims.”
The DOJ said these were all the people involved:
- Josef Ludwig Brown
- Crystal Samantha Shaw
- Jonathan Scott Webb
- Christopher Kirk Webb
- Stephanie Amber Barton
- Haleigh McKenzie Wolfe
- Terrence Brooks Vilacha
- Cara Camille Bailey
- Jessica Dawn Lester
- Brian Edward Addair
- Russell Eric Stiltner
- Joseph Frederick Hass
- Daneil Wayne Horton
- Justin Warren Meadows
- Jason Dale Worley
- Jeramy Blake Farmer
- Clinton Michael Altizer
The DOJ said they are all charged with conspiring to defraud the United States, fraud in connection with emergency benefits, and conspiring to commit mail fraud.
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