Albany Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Summary
Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York, dated February 12, 2025, announcing that Niesha Goodwin of Albany pled guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, and to firearm and drug distribution charges. Goodwin admitted that from about July 2020 through March 2021 unemployment insurance benefits worth more than $150,000 were fraudulently obtained through applications in the names of five other people, and agreed to pay $151,783 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor. Goodwin also admitted possessing a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and cocaine base with intent to distribute. Sentencing is set for June 12, 2025, before United States District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Albany Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud.”
Original at www.oig.dol.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-02-13-albany-woman-pleads-guilty-to-unemployment-insurance-fraud-985bb43db3/
, SHA-256 da0b964546b6ed087dc4f532f0235e145710a0c0010879b02eecd294e34d38ab.Full text
PRESS RELEASE Albany Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud and Gun and Drug Charges Wednesday, February 12, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York ALBANY, NEW YORK – Niesha Goodwin, age 37, of Albany, pled guilty today to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people. Goodwin also pled guilty to firearm and drug distribution charges for a firearm and cocaine base recovered during a search of her residence. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Goodwin admitted that from about July 2020 through March 2021, she fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits worth more than $150,000 by submitting applications for benefits in the names of five other people, including by using stolen personal identifying information. Goodwin agreed to pay $151,783 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor. Goodwin also admitted to possessing a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and cocaine base (a/k/a crack cocaine) with the intent to distribute in November 2022. As a result of her prior conviction for robbery, Goodwin could not lawfully possess the pistol. Goodwin has agreed to forfeit the firearm and to abandon seven rounds of ammunition that were found in the firearm. Goodwin faces at least 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $1.75 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years when she is sentenced on June 12, 2025 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. The case was investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and HSI, with assistance from the Albany Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck, Joseph S. Hartunian, and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case. Updated February 12, 2025 Topics CORONAVIRUS DRUG TRAFFICKING FINANCIAL FRAUD FIREARMS OFFENSES Component USAO - New York, Northern
File and source
- File
- 2025-02-13-Albany-Woman-Pleads-Guilty-to-Unemployment-Insurance-Fraud-and-Gun-and-Drug-Charges-USAO-ND-NY-02-1.pdf
- Size
- 79,155 bytes
- SHA-256
- da0b964546b6ed087dc4f532f0235e145710a0c0010879b02eecd294e34d38ab
- Original
- www.oig.dol.gov