Memphis Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Scheme to Defraud Federal COVID-19 Relief Program
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee dated Thursday, August 21, 2025, announcing the sentence of Rochelle L. Turner, 32, of Memphis, over the Emergency Cash Assistance program of the Department of Health and Human Services administered by the State of Tennessee. According to information presented in court, she submitted unemployment letters falsely indicating that she and others had lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attempting to obtain over $15,000 and causing an actual loss of $6,000. The release states that she pled guilty on May 8, 2025, to a one-count information charging false claims against the United States. On August 14, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced her to five months in federal prison and five months of home detention.
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Press Release Memphis Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Scheme to Defraud Federal COVID-19 Relief Program Thursday, August 21, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Tennessee Memphis, TN – A Memphis woman was recently sentenced to federal prison in connection with her scheme to defraud the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) “Emergency Cash Assistance” program which was administered by the State of Tennessee to provide emergency cash assistance to families who lost jobs or substantial income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. According to information presented in court, Rochelle L. Turner , 32 , created and submitted fraudulent unemployment letters falsely indicating that she and others had lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Turner attempted to defraud the Emergency Cash Assistance program out of over $15,000 and caused an actual loss of $6,000 to the program. Turner pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with making false claims against the United States on May 8, 2025. On August 14, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Turner to five months in federal prison and five months of home detention. Turner was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the United States. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Tony Arvin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates. Updated August 21, 2025 Component USAO - Tennessee, Western Related Content Press Release Federal Jury finds Memphis Man Guilty of Four Armed Robberies of United States Postal Carriers and Bank Fraud Memphis, TN – On January 9, 2026, a federal jury delivered a guilty verdict in the case of Marshun Lewis, 25 , who was charged with committing a series of armed... January 13, 2026 Press Release Department of War Assigns 20 Military Lawyers to Serve as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Memphis Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, is pleased to announce the temporary assignment of twenty (20) military lawyers from the Department of War... January 7, 2026 Press Release Former Correctional Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Narcotics in the Dyer County Jail Jackson, TN – A former correctional officer for the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department was sentenced on December 29, 2025. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today. According to... December 30, 2025
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