Memphis Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Federal Covid-19 Relief Programs of Over $500,000 (November 17, 2025)

Summary

Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Tennessee, dated November 17, 2025. Deashley Tabor of Memphis pleaded guilty before Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to making false claims against the United States Government, defrauding two federal programs of over half a million dollars. According to information presented in court, she and a co-conspirator filed fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits in over 27 different states during the first year of the pandemic, taking over $560,000. They also defrauded the Tennessee Emergency Cash Assistance program of approximately $15,000 using fake employment termination notices. Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2026, and she faces up to 25 years in federal prison.

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PRESS RELEASE


Memphis Woman Pleads Guilty to
Defrauding Federal Covid-19 Relief
Programs of Over $500,000
Monday, November 17, 2025

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Tennessee

Memphis, TN – A Memphis woman has pled guilty to defrauding two federal programs
intended to help people survive the COVID-19 pandemic out of over half a million
dollars. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of
Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

Deashley Tabor, 37, pled guilty on October 6, 2025 before Chief United States District
Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to making false claims
against the United States Government. According to information presented in court,
Tabor and her co-conspirator defrauded the United States Government out of over
$560,000 dollars by filing fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits in over 27
different states during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tabor and her co-conspirator also defrauded the federally funded Tennessee Emergency
Cash Assistance (ECA) program of approximately $15,000 dollars by creating fake
employment termination notices for themselves and others. The ECA program was
intended to provide financial assistance to families that had been significantly affected
by the COVID-19 pandemic because of lost employment.

Tabor is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16, 2026. She faces up to 25 years in
federal prison.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Protection of the United States
Treasury is a top priority for the Department of Justice, and our office is absolutely
committed to bringing to justice those who would seek to take unfair advantage of
critical government resources through fraud during the challenging and uncertain time
of the COVID-19 pandemic."
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Labor – Office of
Inspector General and by the United States Department of Health and Human Services –
Office of Inspector General.

The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant United States
Attorney Tony R. Arvin.

                                        ###

          For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team
at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at
                    @WDTNNews for office news and updates.



Updated November 17, 2025


Component
USAO - Tennessee, Western


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