New Jersey Man Admits Stealing more than $450,000 in Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Summary
Maurice Mills, 29, of Union, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti to an information charging wire fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced on Monday, September 20, 2021. Between August and September of 2020, Mills submitted fraudulent unemployment insurance benefit applications to the State of New York using the names of other individuals and obtained more than $450,000. The release describes the CARES Act's Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which the New York State Department of Labor administers along with regular unemployment. Wire fraud carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits or losses. Sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 3, 2022.
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Press Release New Jersey Man Admits Stealing more than $450,000 in Unemployment Insurance Benefits Monday, September 20, 2021 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. – A Union, New Jersey, man today admitted that he illegally obtained more than $450,000 in unemployment insurance benefits, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced. Maurice Mills, 29, of Union, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti to an information charging him with wire fraud. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. The CARES Act created a new temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides unemployment insurance benefits (UIB) for individuals who were not eligible for other types of unemployment (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers). The CARES Act also created a new temporary federal program called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation that provides additional benefits to those eligible for PUA and regular UIB. The New York State Department of Labor administers and manages the regular unemployment and PUA programs in the State of New York. Between August and September of 2020, Mills submitted fraudulent UIB applications to the State of New York using the names of other individuals. As a result, the State of New York approved and provided, and Mills falsely obtained, more than $450,000 in UIB. The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits to Mills or loss suffered by the victims, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2022. Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone in Manhattan; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., in Newark; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero in Newark; and special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. She also thanked the New York State Department of Labor, Office of Special Investigations for its assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark. Updated September 20, 2021 Topic COVID-Related Fraud Component USAO - New Jersey Press Release Number: 21-417 Related Content Press Release Morris County Company Settles Matter Alleging it Received Improper Paycheck Protection Program Loan A Morris County tour company entered into a settlement agreement with the United States resolving allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by applying for and receiving two... December 15, 2025 Press Release Title Company Owner and Real Estate Investor Admit Mortgage Fraud, COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud Schemes Two New Jersey residents admitted participating in a multimillion dollar mortgage fraud scheme and one of the individuals also admitted fraudulently obtaining more than $1.8 million of federal Economic Injury... November 24, 2025 Press Release New Jersey Tax Preparer Convicted for $170 Million COVID-19 Tax Credit Scheme A New Jersey tax preparer was found guilty by a jury for his scheme seeking more than $170 million in fraudulent tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) by... November 19, 2025
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