Monessen Woman Sentenced to Prison for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud
Summary
A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania dated May 19, 2022. It announces that United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV sentenced Amanda Fairfax, a former resident of Monessen, to 18 months' imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release on a conviction of five counts of mail fraud. According to information presented to the court, the release states, Fairfax filed Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims between June and July 2020 on behalf of five individuals, all containing fraudulent statements, and obtained $66,240.00. The sentence includes a special assessment of $500 and restitution of $66,240.00.
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“Monessen Woman Sentenced to Prison for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud.”
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Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Pennsylvania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, May 19, 2022
Monessen Woman Sentenced to Prison for Pandemic
Unemployment Assistance Fraud
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A former resident of Monessen, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal
court to 18 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release on her
conviction of five counts of mail fraud, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Amanda Fairfax, age
37.
In order to combat the devastating impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the United States,
the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed into law. The CARES
Act created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program, which provided
unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or
extended unemployment benefits. Individuals are eligible for PUA if they were unemployed due to
the pandemic and could accept a job if one were offered
According to information presented to the court, between June and July 2020, Fairfax knowingly
filed claims for PUA benefits on behalf of five individuals, all of which contained fraudulent
statements. The U.S. Postal Service transported the resulting benefits to two addresses associated
with Fairfax. In total, Fairfax fraudulently obtained $66,240.00 over the course of her scheme.
As part of the sentence imposed, the defendant was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $500
and restitution in the amount of $66,240.00.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the
government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the United States Department of Labor – Office of the
Inspector General and the United States Secret Service for the investigation leading to the successful
prosecution of Amanda Fairfax.
Topic(s): Component(s):
Coronavirus USAO - Pennsylvania, Western
Financial Fraud
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