Indictment — United States v. Titianna Ammons, Central District of Illinois (Document 1)

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A grand jury indictment of Titianna Ammons Case No. 2:26-cr-20028-CSB-EIL, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, filed June 2, 2026 as Document 1. Counts One, Two and Three charge wire fraud under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, each based on an ACH payment of unemployment benefits from the Illinois Department of Employment Security on or about July 14, 2021, August 25, 2021 and September 8, 2021. The indictment alleges that after a temporary Special Projects Assistant position with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District ended, Ammons applied for unemployment benefits in October 2020 and received them, including approximately $300 extra per week in FPUC benefits. It alleges that while receiving benefits Ammons worked and was paid, including a stipend as a representative on the Champaign County Board, but certified receiving no wages.

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2:26-cr-20028-CSB-EIL #1 Filed: 06/02/26 Page 1 of 7
cr g E-FILED

Tuesday, 02 June, 2026 02:34:25 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS a j i a D

URBANA DIVISION
JUN ~2 2026
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
) Ue RK OF THE Court
Plaintiff, ) CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT
STRICT OF ILLINOIS
vs. ) Case No. 26-CR-200A0”
)
TITIANNA AMMONS (Also Known _ ) Title 18, United States Code,
As “Titianna Mays,” “Tatianna ) Section 1343,
Ammons,” and “Titianna Ammons- )
Brown”), )
)
Defendant. )
INDICTMENT
COUNT ONE
(Wire Fraud)
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
1 Titianna Ammons (AMMONS) at all relevant times was a resident of

Champaign County in the Central District of Illinois. From approximately July 15, 2020, to
September 30, 2020, AMMONS was employed on a temporary basis by the Champaign-
Urbana Public Health District as a Special Projects Assistant for the 2020 United States
Census.

abs Unemployment Insurance (UJ) is a joint state and federal program overseen
by the U.S. Department of Labor that provides monetary benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
UI payments are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to lawful workers
who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Beginning in or around March 2020,

in connection with the presidentially declared major disaster and emergency proclamation
2:26-cr-20028-CSB-EIL #1 Filed: 06/02/26 Page 2of7

concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded UI eligibility and
increased UI benefits, including an additional $600 weekly benefit under the Federal
Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program that was later reauthorized at
$300 per week. These funds were distributed to the states’ UI programs from the U.S.
Department of the Treasury. Additionally, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment
Compensation (PEUC) program extended the time limit for an individual to receive
federally financed UI benefits. Both the FPUC and PEUC expired on September 6, 2021.

3. In the State of Illinois, at all relevant times, the Illinois Department of
Employment Security (IDES) based in Springfield, Illinois, administered the state’s UI
program. Those seeking benefits from IDES submitted online applications. Applicants
were required to answer specific questions to establish eligibility to receive UI benefits,
including self-certifying that they were unemployed. IDES relied upon the information in
the application to determine eligibility for Ul benefits. The application required an
individualized attestation that the information was true and correct, as well as ongoing
weekly certifications attesting whether the benefits recipient had worked that week or
received any wages.

4. Once IDES determined an applicant was eligible, it deposited UI benefits into
the applicant’s bank account via intestate electronic wire through the Automated Clearing

House (ACH).
2:26-cr-20028-CSB-EIL #1 Filed: 06/02/26 Page 3of/7

The Scheme to Defraud

5. Beginning on or about October 4, 2020, and continuing until on or about
October 4, 2021, in Champaign County, in the Central District of Illinois, and elsewhere,
TITIANNA AMMONS
(Also Known As “Titianna Mays,”
“Tatianna Ammons,” and “Titianna Ammons-Brown”),
defendant herein, knowingly and intentionally devised a scheme and artifice to defraud
the U.S. Department of Labor and IDES and to obtain money and property by means of
materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.

6. On or about October 4 and 18, 2020, after her temporary Special Projects
Assistant position with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District ended, as part of the
scheme to defraud, AMMONS applied for UI benefits stating that she was laid off for lack
of work. Based on her application, IDES found she was eligible for UI benefits. IDES paid
her UI benefits from on or about October 24, 2020, until on or about September 10, 2021.
Beginning on or about January 2, 2021, Ammons’s UI benefits included approximately
$300 extra per week in FPUC benefits that were authorized, disbursed and paid in
connection with the presidentially declared major disaster and emergency proclamation
concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

7. During the time that AMMMONS was receiving UI benefits, she was
employed in various capacities and received wages. For example, she received earnings
performing work for the Friends of Carol Ammons for State Representative. She received a

stipend as a representative on the Champaign County Board. She received a paycheck as
2:26-cr-20028-CSB-EIL #1 Filed: 06/02/26 Page4of7

an Executive Assistant for Hood Vote Neighborhood Transformation. She received salary
as a Program Director/ Coordinator with Bridgewater Sullivan Community Life Center.

8. Nonetheless, as part of the scheme to defraud, in her online certifications
with IDES during the time periods that she was receiving UI benefits and also working,
AMMONS falsely represented that she did not work and did not receive any wages. Asa
result, AMMONS received UI benefits to which she was not entitled.

Execution of the Scheme

9. On or about July 14, 2021, in Champaign County in the Central District of

Illinois, and elsewhere,
TITIANNA AMMONS
(Also Known As “Titianna Mays,”
“Tatianna Ammons,” and “Titianna Ammons-Brown”),
defendant herein, for the purposes of executing and attempting to execute the above-
described scheme and artifice to defraud, and to obtain money by means of materially
false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, did knowingly cause to be
transmitted by means of wire communications in interstate commerce, certain writings,
signs, signals, sounds, and images, that is, an ACH payment from IDES to her checking
account at JP Morgan Chase providing UI benefits to which she was not entitled because
she failed to disclose she worked and received wages from the Friends of Carol Ammons

and the Champaign County Board.

In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343.
COUNT TWO
(Wire Fraud)

THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
i, The Grand Jury re-alleges and incorporates by reference Paragraphs 1
through 8 of Count One of this Indictment as though fully set forth herein.

Execution of the Scheme

2: On or about August 25, 2021, in Champaign County in the Central District of

Illinois, and elsewhere,
TITIANNA AMMONS
(Also Known As “Titianna Mays,”
“Tatianna Ammons,” and “Titianna Ammons-Brown”),
defendant herein, for the purposes of executing and attempting to execute the above-
described scheme and artifice to defraud, and to obtain money by means of materially
false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, did knowingly cause to be
transmitted by means of wire communications in interstate commerce, certain writings,
signs, signals, sounds, and images, that is, an ACH payment from IDES to her checking
account at JP Morgan Chase providing UI benefits to which she was not entitled because
she failed to disclose that she worked and received wages from Bridgewater Sullivan

Community Life Center.

In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343.
COUNT THREE
(Wire Fraud)
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
1. The Grand Jury re-alleges and incorporates by reference Paragraphs 1

through 8 of Count One of this Indictment as though fully set forth herein.

Execution of the Scheme

2. On or about September 8, 2021, in Champaign County in the Central District

of Illinois, and elsewhere,

TITIANNA AMMONS
(Also Known As “Titianna Mays,”
“Tatianna Ammons,” and “Titianna Ammons-Brown”),
defendant herein, for the purposes of executing and attempting to execute the above-
described scheme and artifice to defraud, and to obtain money by means of materially
false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, did knowingly cause to be
transmitted by means of wire communications in interstate commerce, certain writings,
signs, signals, sounds, and images, that is, an ACH payment from IDES to her checking
account at JP Morgan Chase providing UI benefits to which she was not entitled because

she failed to disclose that she worked and received wages from Bridgewater Sullivan

Community Life Center.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343.

A TRUE BILL.

Redacted

FQREPERSON

Redacted |

“GREGORY M. GILMORE
United States Attorney
ELM


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