California Man Accused of Defrauding the Federal Government Over $100,000 in Unemployment Benefits During COVID-19
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah dated Thursday, January 4, 2024, announcing the unsealing of an eight-count indictment against Robert James Waff, 49, of Sacramento, for unlawfully collecting COVID-19 unemployment insurance from California while living and working in Utah, and allegedly helping others do the same for a cut of their benefits. According to court documents, on June 19, 2020 he applied online through the California Employment Development Department while a resident of Clearfield, Utah, listing an address in Fair Oaks, California, and claimed he had lost employment due to COVID-19. The release number is 24-02.
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Press Release California Man Accused of Defrauding the Federal Government Over $100,000 in Unemployment Benefits During COVID-19 Thursday, January 4, 2024 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An indictment was unsealed after a California man was arrested and is scheduled to appear in a Salt Lake City federal courthouse. The eight count indictment charges the defendant for unlawfully collecting unemployment insurance during COVID-19 from California while living and working in Utah. He also allegedly assisted others in committing the same acts for a cut of their unemployment insurance funds administered under the CARES Act. According to court documents, Robert James Waff, 49, of Sacramento, CA, allegedly submitted an online application for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits on June 19, 2020, through the California Employment Development Department (EDD) website, while he was a resident of Clearfield, Utah. Waff listed his residence and mailing address as Fair Oaks, CA. Waff also claimed he had lost employment due to COVID-19 and that before losing employment his annual income was $44,000, and that he planned to return to work for his previous employer. Waff’s fraudulent California EDD application and continued renewal of his California EDD benefits resulted in Waff receiving over $36,000 in fraudulent payments. Beginning in July 2020, Waff also allegedly helped three coconspirators apply for COVID-19 related California unemployment benefits through the California EDD website. None of the applicants lived or worked in the state of California. In return, Waff requested a cash payout from each applicant as compensation for assisting with the false application. As a result of the fraudulent filings, the actual loss resulting from fraudulent UI benefit claims exceeded $100,000. Waff is charged with one count of wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud aiding and abetting, and four counts of mail fraud aiding and abetting. His initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Division and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (OIG). Assistant United States Attorney Brian Williams of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Contact Felicia Martinez Public Affairs Specialist Felicia.martinez@usdoj.gov (801) 325-3237 USAO-UT | Facebook | Twitter Updated January 4, 2024 Topics Coronavirus Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud Component USAO - Utah Press Release Number: 24-02 Related Content Press Release Convicted Felon Accused of Lying on COVID-19 Loan Applications to Obtain Over $182,000 SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a Utah resident with wire fraud after he allegedly lied about his criminal history... November 14, 2023 Press Release Utah Businesswoman Sentenced to 18 Months Imprisonment Following $5M Securities Fraud Conviction Salt Lake City , Utah – A Utah woman was sentenced yesterday to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release for securities fraud after she defrauded investors... September 6, 2023 Press Release Alleged Business Scammers Indicted After Nationwide Scheme to Defraud Investors, Including Elderly, of More than $30M Salt Lake City , Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging seven defendants, including the founder and former President of Noah’s Event Venue... August 28, 2023
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