Pandemic Darlings The pandemic economy, in original documents
Home Court filings United States v. Chanette Lewis

Case docket

Chanette Lewis COVID relief fraud case — U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.

Chanette Lewis COVID relief fraud case — U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y. — 58 documents in the archive, dated September 28, 2021 to March 4, 2025.

Case facts

CourtU.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (8 filings); U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1 filing)
Docket numbersNo. 1:21-cr-00729 — main docket · CourtListener docket 571079
No. 1:21-mj-09354 — magistrate docket (complaint and arrest papers) · CourtListener docket 567261
Filings58 public filings
Filed2021-09-28 – 2025-03-04
Original PDFs58 of 58

Case summary

Chanette Lewis, also known as Netty Hott, was prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 21-cr-729 (LAK). She pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 371 in connection with a COVID-19 relief program, an unemployment insurance program and the New York City Housing Authority. The Second Circuit's summary order records that from April 2020 to September 2021 she was an organizer and leader of three schemes, one involving New York City's COVID-19 Hotel Room Isolation Program, on which she worked at a call center handling reservations. The district court sentenced her to 36 months' imprisonment and three years of supervised release and ordered forfeiture and restitution. Judgment was entered February 22, 2024 and the Second Circuit affirmed on January 3, 2025.

Case at a glance

Defendant(s)Chanette Lewis, a.k.a. Netty Hott; Tatiana Benjamin, Tatiana Daniel and Heaven West named as co-defendants in the appeal caption
Court and docketU.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 1:21-cr-00729-LAK; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, No. 24-504
ProgramNew York City COVID-19 Hotel Room Isolation Program; unemployment insurance; New York City Housing Authority benefits
ChargesTwo counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 371); the superseding information charges a conspiracy running from about April 2020 to about September 2021
Outcome and sentencePleaded guilty; sentenced to 36 months' imprisonment and three years of supervised release, with forfeiture and restitution ordered; judgment entered February 22, 2024; affirmed by the Second Circuit January 3, 2025
Counts of convictionPleaded guilty to counts (S2) One and (S2) Two, each conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 371, offense ended 9/30/2021; all open counts dismissed on motion of the United States (judgment of February 22, 2024, p. 1)
Sentence imposed36 months' imprisonment on each count, concurrent (p. 2); three years of supervised release (p. 3)
Restitution$360,330.00, to victims on a schedule filed under seal (p. 5); the restitution order of February 8, 2024 sets the same total and names co-defendants Tatiana Daniel ($287,512) and Tatiana Benjamin ($294,624) as subject to restitution orders to the same victims (order of February 8, 2024, pp. 1-2); the plea agreement stipulates restitution of $360,916
Fine and assessmentSpecial assessment $200.00 (p. 5)
Forfeiture$289,536, "as more fully set forth in the Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture/Money Judgment (DI 63)" (p. 6); that order enters a money judgment of $289,536 representing proceeds traceable to counts one and two (order of December 21, 2022, p. 2)

What were the three schemes?

Diverting free hotel rooms from New York City's COVID-19 Hotel Room Isolation Program and selling them to paying customers; obtaining unemployment insurance benefits, including an application in her own name while employed at the call center and one for her incarcerated brother; and creating false documents so that people could obtain NYCHA public housing benefits for a fee.

What did the plea agreement stipulate?

An offense level of 21, criminal history category III and a guidelines range of 46 to 57 months, with restitution of $360,916 and forfeiture of $289,536. At sentencing the parties agreed she should be sentenced as though the range were 41 to 51 months.

How much did the hotel scheme cost?

The government's sentencing memorandum states that in total the government paid more than approximately $400,000 for hotel rooms fraudulently diverted as a result of the scheme.

Docket

58 documents in docket-entry order; attachments follow their entry. Gaps name the entries we do not have.

No. 1:21-cr-00729 — main docket

  1. —Entries 2–3 are not in the archive
  2. —Entries 6–16 are not in the archive
  3. United States v. Chanette Lewis, 21 Mj. 9354 — Chanette Lewis's bail conditions to add a mental health treatment provisionEntry 17 · CourtListener docket 571079
  4. Letter to Magistrate Judge Netburn re: United States v. Chanette Lewis — No. 1:21-cr-00729-LAK (Dkt. 18, S.D.N.Y.)Entry 18 · CourtListener docket 571079
  5. —Entries 19–21 are not in the archive
  6. Letter to Judge Cave, Request to Modify Conditions of Release — United States v. Chanette Lewis (Document 23)Entry 23 · CourtListener docket 571079
  7. —Entries 24–27 are not in the archive
  8. Indictment — United States v. Chanette LewisEntry 28 · CourtListener docket 571079
  9. Scheduling Order (initial conference on December 8, 2021) — United States of America v. Chanette Lewis, 21-CR-729 (LAK) (Document 29)Entry 29 · CourtListener docket 571079
  10. Protective Order — Chanette Lewis, Tatiana Benjamin, Tatiana Daniel — 21 Cr. 729 (LAK), Southern District of New York (Document 30)Entry 30 · CourtListener docket 571079
  11. —Entry 31 is not in the archive
  12. Notice of Filing of Official Transcript — Chanette Lewis, et al., 12/8/21 (Document 32)Entry 32 · CourtListener docket 571079
  13. —Entries 33–36 are not in the archive
  14. Conference — United States v. Chanette Lewis, Hon. Lewis A. Kaplan, District Judge (Dkt. 37, S.D.N.Y.)Entry 37 · CourtListener docket 571079
  15. Notice of Filing of Official Transcript — Chanette Lewis, 3/15/22 (Document 38)Entry 38 · CourtListener docket 571079
  16. Proceeding — United States v. Chanette Lewis, Hon. Lewis A. Kaplan, District Judge (Dkt. 39, S.D.N.Y.)Entry 39 · CourtListener docket 571079
  17. Notice of Filing of Official Transcript — Chanette Lewis, et al., Conference, 5/17/22 (Document 40)Entry 40 · CourtListener docket 571079
  18. —Entries 41 and 43–48 are not in the archive; entry 42 is listed under More documents below
  19. Superseding Information — United States v. Chanette LewisEntry 49 · CourtListener docket 571079
  20. Waiver of Indictment — United States v. Lewis (Document 50)Entry 50 · CourtListener docket 571079
  21. Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge on a Felony Plea AllocutionEntry 51 · CourtListener docket 571079
  22. —Entries 52–56 and 59–60 are not in the archive; entries 57–58 and 61 are listed under More documents below
  23. Order, Guilty Plea Allocution Before a Magistrate Judge — United States v. Chanette Lewis (Document 62)Entry 62 · CourtListener docket 571079
  24. Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture / Money Judgment — United States v. Chanette Lewis (2d Cir.)Entry 63 · CourtListener docket 571079
  25. —Entries 65–66 are not in the archive; entry 64 is listed under More documents below
  26. United States v. Chanette Lewis — Ms. Lewis requests that the Court modify her conditions of release to allow her travel to Miami, Florida — Doc. 67Entry 67 · CourtListener docket 571079
  27. United States v. Chanette Lewis — Ms. Lewis requests that the Court modify her conditions of release to allow her travel to Miami, Florida — Doc. 68Entry 67 · CourtListener docket 571079
  28. —Entries 68–75 are not in the archive
  29. Letter (March 8, 2023), Honorable Lewis A. Kaplan — Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis (Federal Defenders of New York, Inc.)Entry 76 · CourtListener docket 571079
  30. Letter (March 8, 2023), Honorable Lewis A. Kaplan — Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis, Case 1:21-cr-00729-LAK (Document 76)Entry 76 · CourtListener docket 571079
  31. —Entries 77–81 are not in the archive
  32. Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis — request that the sentencing for Ms. Lewis, currently scheduled for May 18, 2023, be adjournedEntry 82 · CourtListener docket 571079
  33. —Entries 84–85 and 87–89 are not in the archive; entries 83 and 86 are listed under More documents below
  34. Letter (July 18, 2023), The Honorable Lewis A. Kaplan — Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis (S.D.N.Y.)Entry 90 · CourtListener docket 571079
  35. Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis — travel to the Southern District of Florida between July 25 and July 28, 2023Entry 91 · CourtListener docket 571079
  36. —Entries 93–96 are not in the archive; entry 92 is listed under More documents below
  37. The Government's Sentencing Memorandum — United States v. Chanette Lewis (2d Cir.)Entry 97 · CourtListener docket 571079
  38. Letter — Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis (scheduled to be sentenced by the Court on September 19, 2023)Entry 98 · CourtListener docket 571079
  39. Letter from Cynthia Lewis to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan — United States v. Chanette Lewis, No. 1:21-cr-00729-LAK (Dkt. 98-1, S.D.N.Y.)Entry 98, attachment 1 · CourtListener docket 571079
  40. Letter to Hon. Lewis A. Kaplan, Attached Letters from Mother, Sister and Cousin-in-Law (Document 99)Entry 99 · CourtListener docket 571079
  41. Letter from Cynthia Lewis to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan — United States v. Chanette Lewis, No. 1:21-cr-00729-LAK (Dkt. 99-1, S.D.N.Y.)Entry 99, attachment 1 · CourtListener docket 571079
  42. Dear Judge Kaplan — My Name Is Cynthia Lewis, I'm Chanette Lewis's Older Sister — Brooklyn, New YorkEntry 99, attachment 2 · CourtListener docket 571079
  43. Dear Judge Lewis A. Kaplan — Remy Hayward — Support for My Cousin-in-Law, Chanette LewisEntry 99, attachment 3 · CourtListener docket 571079
  44. —Entries 100–101 and 108–109 are not in the archive; entries 102–107 are listed under More documents below
  45. Consent/Proposed Order of Restitution — United States v. Chanette Lewis (2d Cir.)Entry 110 · CourtListener docket 571079
  46. —Entry 111 is not in the archive; entry 112 is listed under More documents below
  47. Judgment in a Criminal Case — United States v. Chanette LewisEntry 113 · CourtListener docket 571079
  48. —Entry 114 is listed under More documents below
  49. Criminal Notice of Appeal — Chanette Lewis, Defendant, Form AEntry 115 · CourtListener docket 571079
  50. Sentencing — United States v. Chanette Lewis, Hon. Lewis A. Kaplan, District Judge (Dkt. 116, S.D.N.Y.)Entry 116 · CourtListener docket 571079
  51. Notice of Filing of Official Transcript — Chanette Lewis, Conference, 1/31/24 (Document 117)Entry 117 · CourtListener docket 571079
  52. —Entries 118–119 are not in the archive; entries 120–121 are listed under More documents below
  53. United States v. Chanette Lewis et al. — each defendant's restitution obligation (Document 122)Entry 122 · CourtListener docket 571079
  54. —Entries 123–125 are not in the archive
  55. Sentencing Transcript — United States v. Chanette LewisEntry 126 · CourtListener docket 571079
  56. Notice of Filing of Official Transcript (Sentence held on 2/8/2024) — USA v. Lewis (S.D.N.Y.)Entry 127 · CourtListener docket 571079
  57. —Entries 128–129 are not in the archive
  58. Letter (May 8, 2024), Hon. Lewis A. Kaplan — Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis (Federal Defenders of New York, Inc.)Entry 130 · CourtListener docket 571079
  59. Letter — Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis, Case 1:21-cr-00729-LAK (Document 130), Federal Defenders, Southern District of New YorkEntry 131 · CourtListener docket 571079
  60. —Entry 132 is not in the archive; entry 133 is listed under More documents below
  61. United States v. Chanette Lewis — Dear Judge Kaplan (presentence report, criminal history score)Entry 134 · CourtListener docket 571079
  62. —Entry 135 is listed under More documents below
  63. Dear Judge Kaplan — United States v. Chanette Lewis — Request a Two-Week Postponement (Document 136)Entry 136 · CourtListener docket 571079
  64. Appearance of Counsel — Colleen P. CassidyEntry 137 · CourtListener docket 571079
  65. Dear Judge Kaplan — Re: United States v. Chanette Lewis — Postponement of Her Surrender Date (Federal Defenders)Entry 138 · CourtListener docket 571079
  66. —Entries 139–140 are not in the archive
  67. Memorandum Endorsement — United States v. Lewis, 21-cr-729 (LAK), compassionate releaseEntry 141 · CourtListener docket 571079
  68. Judgment, Docket No. 24-504 — United States of America v. Chanette Lewis (Richard J. Sullivan, Steven J. Menashi, Circuit Judges)Entry 142 · CourtListener docket 571079
  69. Second Circuit Summary Order — United States v. LewisEntry 142, attachment 1 · CourtListener docket 571079

No. 1:21-mj-09354 — magistrate docket (complaint and arrest papers)

  1. Criminal Complaint — U.S. v. LewisEntry 1 · CourtListener docket 567261
  2. —Entries 2–3 are not in the archive
  3. Bail Disposition — Conditions of Release Set — USA v. Lewis, et al. (S.D.N.Y.)Entry 4 · CourtListener docket 567261
  4. PRB Bond Entered as to Chanette Lewis in amount of $ 200,000 — USA v. Lewis, et al. (Dkt. 5, S.D.N.Y.)Entry 5 · CourtListener docket 567261
  5. —Entries 6–16 are not in the archive
  6. ENDORSED LETTER as to Chanette Lewis addressed to Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn from… — USA v. Lewis, et al (Dkt. 17)Entry 17 · CourtListener docket 567261
  7. ENDORSED LETTER as to Chanette Lewis addressed to Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn from… — USA v. Lewis, et al (Dkt. 18)Entry 18 · CourtListener docket 567261
  8. —Entries 19–21 are not in the archive
  9. Order to Continue in the Interest of Justice as to Chanette Lewis — USA v. Lewis, et al. (Dkt. 22, S.D.N.Y.)Entry 22 · CourtListener docket 567261
  10. ENDORSED LETTER as to Chanette Lewis addressed to Magistrate Judge Sarah L.… — USA v. Lewis, et al (Dkt. 23)Entry 23 · CourtListener docket 567261

More documents from this case’s dockets

22 more documents linked to this case’s dockets are in the archive and not in the docket above.

  1. Letter to Judge Kaplan — United States v. Chanette Lewis et al. (Southern District of New York, Document 42)Dkt. 42 · PDF
  2. Letter to Judge Kaplan, Appointment of Associate Counsel — United States v. Heaven West (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 53)Dkt. 53 · PDF
  3. Court filing — No. 1:21-cr-00729 (Dkt. 58, S.D.N.Y.)Dkt. 58 · PDF
  4. Order — United States v. Tatiana Benjamin, 1:21-cr-00729 (S.D.N.Y., Document 57)Dkt. 57 · PDF
  5. Order — United States v. Tatiana Daniel (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 61, filed 12/21/22)Dkt. 61 · PDF
  6. Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture/Money Judgment — United States v. Tatiana Daniel (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 64)Dkt. 64 · PDF
  7. Memorandum in Aid of Sentencing on Behalf of Tatiana Daniel — United States v. Daniel (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 83)Dkt. 83 · PDF
  8. Sentencing Memorandum — United States v. Heaven West (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 86, June 5, 2023)Dkt. 86 · PDF
  9. Sentencing Memorandum on Behalf of Tatiana Benjamin — United States v. Tatiana Benjamin (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 92)Dkt. 92 · PDF
  10. Letter to Judge Kaplan — United States v. Heaven West (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 101)Dkt. 101 · PDF
  11. Order — United States v. Heaven West (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 103, February 2, 2024)Dkt. 103 · PDF
  12. Order — United States v. Tatiana Benjamin (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 104, February 2, 2024)Dkt. 104 · PDF
  13. Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture/Money Judgment — United States v. Heaven West (S.D.N.Y., Document 105)Dkt. 105 · PDF
  14. Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture/Money Judgment — United States v. Benjamin (S.D.N.Y., Document 102)Dkt. 102 · PDF
  15. Consent Order of Restitution — United States v. Heaven West (S.D.N.Y., Document 107)Dkt. 107 · PDF
  16. Order of Restitution — United States v. Tatiana Benjamin, 1:21-cr-00729 (S.D.N.Y., Document 106)Dkt. 106 · PDF
  17. Judgment in a Criminal Case — United States v. Heaven West (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 114, filed 02/22/24)Dkt. 114 · PDF
  18. Judgment in a Criminal Case — United States v. Tatiana Benjamin, 1:21-cr-00729 (S.D.N.Y., Document 112)Dkt. 112 · PDF
  19. Judgment — United States v. Tatiana Daniel (Dkt. 120, S.D.N.Y.)Dkt. 120 · PDF
  20. Order of Restitution — United States v. Tatiana Daniel, 1:21-cr-00729 (S.D.N.Y., Document 121)Dkt. 121 · PDF
  21. Letter to Judge Kaplan — United States v. Chanette Lewis et al. (Southern District of New York, Document 133)Dkt. 133 · PDF
  22. Memorandum and Order — United States v. Tatiana Daniel (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 135, June 17, 2024)Dkt. 135 · PDF

Other cases in the archive from U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.

Court, dates and docket numbers are as recorded on the filings.

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