Detroit Man Pleads Guilty in Half-Million Dollar Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Fraud, ID-Theft Scheme

Summary

Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan, dated January 8, 2026. Nicholas Overton, a Detroit resident, pleaded guilty before Judge Denise Page Hood to one count each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to court records, the defendant submitted or caused the submission of approximately 90 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims across 20 states and territories and received over $500,000 in fraudulent unemployment assistance payments. Overton will be sentenced by Judge Hood on May 7, 2026, and faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years' imprisonment on the wire fraud count and a mandatory, consecutive sentence of 2 years' imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft count.

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PRESS RELEASE


Detroit Man Pleads Guilty in Half-Million
Dollar Pandemic Unemployment
Insurance Fraud, ID-Theft Scheme
Thursday, January 8, 2026

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

DETROIT – A Detroit resident pleaded guilty yesterday related to an extensive
unemployment insurance fraud and identity theft scheme, announced United States
Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.

Nicholas Overton, 32, pleaded guilty today before Judge Denise Page Hood to one
count each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Joining in the announcement was Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes
Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General.

According to court records the defendant submitted or caused the submission of
approximately 90 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims across 20 states and
territories (primarily Michigan, California, New York, and Arizona) and received over
$500,000 in fraudulent unemployment assistance payments.

According to court records the defendant submitted these claims using the personal
identifying information (PII) of multiple individuals who were unaware that their
identities had been compromised and who had not authorized the defendant to file
claims on their behalf.

U.S. Attorney Gorgon stated, “Identity theft is not a victimless crime. It is a deliberate
exploitation of real people for personal gain. With these pleas the defendant is being
held accountable, and this Office will continue to pursue those who use fraud and stolen
identities to take advantage of others and undermine trust in public programs.”

“Nicholas Overton devised and executed a scheme that defrauded 20 state workforce
agencies by filing for unemployment insurance in the names of identity theft victims
who were not entitled to such benefits. This conviction affirms the Office of Inspector
General’s commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and
bring to justice those who exploit U.S. Department of Labor programs,” said Megan
Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office
of Inspector General.

Overton will be sentenced by Judge Hood on May 7, 2026. He faces a maximum
sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud count and a mandatory,
consecutive sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft count.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Department of Labor Office of the
Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan
A. Particka and Jason D. Norwood.

Updated January 8, 2026

Topic
CORONAVIRUS
Component
USAO - Michigan, Eastern


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