Three Sentenced for Pandemic-Related Unemployment Fraud, ID Theft

Summary

Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri, dated June 6, 2025. Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Daryl Jones Jr. to 65 months in prison and ordered restitution of $116,587. The release says Jones fraudulently obtained $84,592 in unemployment insurance benefits from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania between June 22, 2020, and July 15, 2020, on debit cards issued in stolen identities, and used counterfeit pay stubs to obtain a $31,700 vehicle loan. Cheryl Johnson was sentenced May 22 to 55 months, and James Whitiker, who admitted knowing his home was used, received three years of prison. Investigators found a notebook of names, Social Security numbers and birthdates.

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PRESS RELEASE


Three Sentenced for Pandemic-Related
Unemployment Fraud, ID Theft
Friday, June 6, 2025

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Friday sentenced a man who ran a
scheme that falsely obtained COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance
benefits and stole dozens of identities and credit cards to 65 months in prison and
ordered him to pay restitution of $116,587.

Daryl Jones Jr., 46, fraudulently obtained $84,592 in COVID-19 pandemic-related
unemployment insurance benefits from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania between
June 22, 2020, and July 15, 2020. Jones obtained those benefits on debit cards
fraudulently issued to him and four others. Four additional debit cards were issued using
more stolen identities, but no unemployment benefits were deposited upon those cards.

Jones obtained some of the personal identifying information to set up the accounts
from his girlfriend, Cheryl Johnson, who had supervised them at various St. Louis area
businesses.

On June 3, 2021, Jones submitted counterfeit pay stubs from a fake business associated
with Johnson to obtain a $31,700 vehicle loan. He and Johnson submitted counterfeit
insurance identification cards to accept delivery of the vehicle.

Jones and Johnson were using the St. Louis County home of James Whitiker to commit
their crimes. On June 25, 2021, investigators performed a court-approved search of the
home and found a notebook containing the names, Social Security numbers and
birthdates of about 35 individuals. They also found two more pieces of paper with the
identifying information of 18 other people, three stolen identification documents, nine
Pennsylvania unemployment insurance benefit debit cards and stolen credit and debit
cards.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system
from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners,
Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial
schemes to defraud others in order to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice
for victims, including the multiple individual consumer and business victims in this
investigation,” said Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division
of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.

Jones pleaded guilty in February in U.S. District Court to three felonies: conspiracy to
commit mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud.

Johnson, 44, pleaded guilty February 20 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud,
aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. She was sentenced May 22 to 55 months in
prison and ordered to repay $116,587. Whitiker, 44, pleaded guilty in July to a
conspiracy charge and was sentenced in October to three years of prison. He admitted
using two debit cards during the conspiracy and admitted knowing that Jones and
Johnson were using his home to commit the unemployment fraud.

The U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General
investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry prosecuted the case.

Contact
Robert Patrick, Public Affairs Officer, robert.patrick@usdoj.gov.

Updated June 6, 2025

Topics
FINANCIAL FRAUD

IDENTITY THEFT
Component
USAO - Missouri, Eastern


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