Houston Woman Sentenced for $800,000 Covid Fraud Scheme
Summary
Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri, dated January 22, 2025. It reports that Prayshana Washington of Houston, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to three years and one month in federal prison without parole for fraudulently receiving more than $800,000 in Missouri and CARES Act unemployment benefits. The sentence includes restitution of $808,019 to the Missouri Division of Employment Security and $28,350 to the California Employment Development Department, a total of $836,369. Washington pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024, to one count of theft of government property and admitted filing 38 successful claims using personal identifying information of other individuals.
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“Houston Woman Sentenced for $800,000 Covid Fraud Scheme.”
Original at www.oig.dol.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-01-28-houston-woman-sentenced-for-800-000-covid-fraud-scheme-usao-181c31c257/
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PRESS RELEASE Houston Woman Sentenced for $800,000 Covid Fraud Scheme Wednesday, January 22, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Houston, Texas, woman was sentenced in federal court today for fraudulently receiving more than $800,000 in Missouri and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act unemployment benefits using the identity information of numerous other persons. Prayshana Washington, 37, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to three years and one month in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Washington to pay $808,019 in restitution to the Missouri Division of Employment Security and $28,350 in restitution to the California Employment Development Department, for a total of $836,369 in restitution. On May 23, 2024, Washington pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property. Washington admitted she facilitated the filing of false claims in her name and the names of other persons, thereby fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits paid through the state of Missouri. These benefits included benefits from the CARES Act. Washington fraudulently filed 38 successful claims for unemployment benefits, using the name and personal identifying information of individuals in the state of Missouri and elsewhere. These persons were not eligible to receive Missouri and enhanced unemployment benefits. The scheme lasted over a year and required repeated false statements by Washington to the Missouri Department of Employment Services. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General and the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations & Labor Racketeering Fraud. Updated January 22, 2025 Topic CORONAVIRUS Component USAO - Missouri, Western
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