International Firearms Dealer Involved In $2 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme Sentenced To More Than 7 Years

Summary

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida dated April 20, 2023. It announces that U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron sentenced Daniel Ira Johnson of Orlando, a/k/a "Shotta" and "Lajon Black," to seven years and six months in federal prison for shipping firearms to the United Kingdom and for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft tied to COVID-19 unemployment insurance relief. Johnson pleaded on December 27, 2022, according to the release. Court documents cited in the release state that Johnson shipped firearms concealed in a safe to a conspirator in Rugby, England, in December 2019 and January 2020, and that Johnson and conspirators are linked to $1.9 million in attempted unemployment claims, over $555,000 of which were paid.

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PRESS RELEASE



International Firearms Dealer
Involved In $2 Million COVID-19
Fraud Scheme Sentenced To More
Than 7 Years In Federal Prison
Thursday, April 20, 2023


For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Daniel Ira Johnson
(35, Orlando), a/k/a “Shotta” a/k/a “Lajon Black,” to seven years and six months in
federal prison for shipping firearms to the United Kingdom and committing wire fraud
and aggravated identity theft in connection with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19
unemployment insurance relief. Johnson had pleaded on December 27, 2022.

According to court documents, Johnson shipped firearms to a conspirator in Rugby
England in December 2019 and January 2020. He concealed the firearms in a safe,
wrapping them to avoid detection, and declaring them to be “car parts” on customs
paperwork. After the global COVID-19 pandemic and in March 2020, following the
government response of extending and expanding unemployment insurance benefits,
Johnson and conspirators used personal identification information from real individuals,
without their knowledge, to apply for and obtain unemployment insurance benefits.
Those benefits were loaded onto debit cards that were delivered to addresses Johnson
and others accessed and the fraud proceeds were quickly withdrawn from those cards or
used to purchase U.S. postal money orders. Johnson participated by exchanging PII with
conspirators, withdrawing funds from ATMs, purchasing U.S. postal money orders, and
instructing other conspirators as to how to use PII to file claims for unemployment
insurance benefits. Johnson and his conspirators are linked to $1.9 million in attempted
fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in this scheme, over $555,000 of which were
paid.

“Daniel Johnson defrauded 19 different state workforce agencies by fraudulently
collecting more than $500,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Johnson stole
unemployment benefits intended for American workers in need of assistance due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to
protect the integrity of all unemployment insurance benefit programs,” said Mathew
Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office
of Inspector General.

Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau
of Industry and Security, Miami Field Office stated, “The illegal smuggling of firearms
from United States is a serious violation of our nation’s export control laws. Along with
our agency partners, we will pursue these violators wherever they are located-
worldwide.”

“Daniel Johnson’s lawless pursuits have finally come to a halt, thanks to the collaborative
efforts between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our federal partners,” said Juan A.
Vargas, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“Today’s sentencing should be a reminder to criminals that we will aggressively pursue
those that aim to defraud innocent individuals.”

“Disrupting the international flow of illegal guns inevitably saves lives and reduces crime
both domestically and abroad. Stopping this scheme to illegally export weapons to the
UK did just that,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Cases like
this highlight the great results that can be achieved when agencies work together to
protect our communities both here and abroad.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Department of
Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and
the U.S. Department of Labor OIG, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom. It is
being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.
Updated April 20, 2023

Topics
CORONAVIRUS

DISASTER FRAUD

FIREARMS OFFENSES


Component
USAO - Florida, Middle


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