Federal grand jury indicts Buffalo man and woman on COVID fraud charges
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York dated Thursday, December 21, 2023, announcing that a federal grand jury indicted Damone Hennings, 31, and Analyse Spencer, 23, both of Buffalo, on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, which carry a minimum of two years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. According to the indictment, between about August 11 and September 7, 2020 they used false identification information, including other people's social security numbers, to submit 10 applications for pandemic benefits to the New York State Department of Labor. It states that they received 10 debit cards containing federal funds as a result.
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Press Release Federal grand jury indicts Buffalo man and woman on COVID fraud charges Thursday, December 21, 2023 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Damone Hennings, 31, and Analyse Spencer, 23, both of Buffalo, NY, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a minimum penalty of two years in prison, and a maximum penalty of 20 years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between on or about August 11, and September 7, 2020, Hennings and Spencer conspired to illegally obtain pandemic related benefits from the New York State Department of Labor. Hennings and Spencer used false identification information, including the social security numbers of other individuals, to submit 10 applications to state labor department. As a result, Hennings and Spencer received 10 debit cards containing federal funds that they were not entitled to receive. Hennings and Spencer attempted to obtain $412,606, but actually obtained approximately $362,268. The indictment is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff David Linder. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # # Contact Barbara Burns 716-843-5817 Updated December 21, 2023 Topics Financial Fraud Identity Theft Component USAO - New York, Western Related Content Press Release Last member of car theft ring sentenced U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dennis L. Jones, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, who was convicted of bank fraud, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison... January 31, 2024 Press Release Wheatfield man sentenced for his role in debt collection scheme U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Greg MacKinnon, 58, of Wheatfield, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to defraud the United States, was sentenced to serve 36 months... December 21, 2023 Press Release Ontario county man going to prison for bilking investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Thomas Corsaro, 60, of Bloomfield, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison by Chief... December 7, 2023
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