Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty in Pandemic Fraud Conspiracy

Summary

Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York, dated May 22, 2025. Anthony Camou of Las Vegas, Nevada, pled guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people. Camou admitted that from July 2020 through September 2021 Camou and co-conspirator Jodi Drygula defrauded the New York State Department of Labor of more than $250,000. Under the plea agreement Camou agreed to pay at least $56,994 in restitution and forfeit $38,641, and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison; sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2025.

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PRESS RELEASE


Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty in Pandemic
Fraud Conspiracy
Thursday, May 22, 2025

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anthony Camou, age 46, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pled guilty
yesterday to mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud for fraudulently obtaining
pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; 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 Lucy Lang, New York State Inspector
General (NYS-OIG), made the announcement.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Pandemic-related unemployment
insurance benefits were designed to assist hardworking Americans struggling during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday’s guilty plea should serve as a warning that we will hold
accountable those who misrepresent their eligibility for federal funding.”

USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward stated: “Yesterday, the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service and its law enforcement partners sent a powerful message to those
who commit fraud through the U.S. mail. Postal Inspectors will vigorously investigate
and bring to justice those seeking to use the mail to facilitate the misappropriation of
public funds in times of prosperity and, more importantly, in times of adversity.”

New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang said: “Theft of unemployment benefits
during the pandemic deprived New Yorkers of critical support in a time of need. My
office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold
accountable those who seek to exploit vital government programs for personal gain,
especially in times of crisis.”

Camou admitted that from July 2020 through September 2021, Camou, and his co-
conspirator, Jodi Drygula, fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from
the New York State Department of Labor in the names of multiple people. Camou and
Drygula defrauded the NYSDOL out of more than $250,000 in unemployment insurance
benefits. As part of his plea agreement, Camou agreed to pay at least $56,994 in
restitution to the New York State Department of Labor and forfeit $38,641.

Camou faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000,
and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. Sentencing is scheduled for
September 18, 2025, in Albany. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on
the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing
Guidelines and other factors.

Drygula previously pled guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and
will be sentenced on July 15, 2025.

The case is being investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and NYS-OIG, with assistance from
the New York State Department of Labor. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck
and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.

Updated May 22, 2025

Topics
CORONAVIRUS

FINANCIAL FRAUD
Component
USAO - New York, Northern


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