Detroit Man Pleads Guilty in $1.9M in Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Fraud Scheme

Summary

Press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan, dated April 13, 2026. Tauheed Salik Wilder pleaded guilty before Judge Brandy R. McMillion to one count of wire fraud. According to court records cited in the release, Wilder filed hundreds of false claims for unemployment insurance benefits in multiple states, including Michigan and California, in other individuals' names, causing actual UI benefit losses of $1.8 million. The release also says Wilder accepted responsibility for two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling approximately $84,000, and that the scheme caused actual losses of $1.9M. Sentencing is set for July 30, 2026, and the maximum sentence is up to 20 years' imprisonment.

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PRESS RELEASE


Detroit Man Pleads Guilty in $1.9M in
Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic
Fraud Scheme
Monday, April 13, 2026

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

DETROIT – A Detroit resident pleaded guilty today related to an extensive
unemployment insurance and Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme, announced
United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.

Tauheed Salik Wilder, 43, pleaded guilty today before Judge Brandy R. McMillion to one
count of wire fraud.

Joining in the announcement was Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in
Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation and Jason Palmer, Director,
Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.

According to court records, Wilder filed hundreds of false claims for unemployment
insurance benefits in multiple states, including Michigan and California, in numerous
other individuals’ names and without their consent. Wilder used, or arranged for others
to use, ATM cards issued in the names of identity theft victims to withdraw the
fraudulently obtained unemployment funds. In total, Wilder's conduct caused actual UI
benefit losses of $1.8 million. Further, Wilder accepted responsibility for two fraudulent
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans he applied for and received in his own name,
totaling approximately $84,000. In total, Wilder’s scheme caused actual losses of $1.9M.

U.S. Attorney Gorgon stated, “Fraud against the government is itself a pandemic. One
that hurts the American taxpayer and undermines the strength of our economy. Each of
these prosecutions is a dose of justice.”

“Tauheed Wilder’s guilty plea sends a clear message: the Department of Labor Office of
Inspector General will relentlessly pursue those who steal from taxpayers through
fraudulent unemployment insurance claims. Protecting the integrity of these programs
for American workers in need remains one of our highest priorities,” said Anthony P.
D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“Together with our law enforcement partners, we are going on offense against fraud—
tracking down bad actors who try to game the system and line their pockets at
taxpayers’ expense.”

“This guilty plea is an important victory for America’s taxpayers who play by the rules
and don’t use assistance programs as a cash slush fund,” said Karen Wingerd, Special
Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Today’s plea is
also part of a much larger and coordinated effort by the IRS-CI and Department of
Justice to aggressively find and crack down on fraudsters misusing taxpayer dollars. For
those still hiding in this shadowy world, know that we will find you and hold you fully
accountable.”

“Mr. Wilder joins a growing list of fraudsters who thought they could get away with
fleecing the unemployment insurance program in Michigan,” said Michigan UIA Director
Jason Palmer. “He should be ashamed of his failed scheme to steal money from hard-
working Michiganders and businesses who support the unemployment insurance
program. He may have thought he got away with it, but in the end he and other bad
actors will learn the Unemployment Insurance Agency will come after them and hold
them accountable for their crimes.”

Wilder will be sentenced by Judge McMillion on July 30, 2026. He faces a maximum
sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud charge.

The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The
core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who
steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat
fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government
effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within
Federal benefit programs.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Department of Labor Office of the
Inspector General (DOL-OIG), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-
CI), and the Michigan UIA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan
A. Particka.

Updated April 13, 2026


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