New Jersey Man Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey dated October 21, 2020 reports that Jefferson Robert, 30, of Newark, arrested on Oct. 20, 2020, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud over unemployment insurance benefits. According to the filings, Robert opened a bank account in the name 'Johny Eto' with a fake United Kingdom passport on Aug. 6, 2019, and on May 12, 2020 the State of Washington wired $7,930 into a bank account after an application in a victim's name. A debit card tied to that account bought approximately 57 U.S. Postal Service money orders totaling $52,000, most listing the name Jefferson Robert. The release says Robert and conspirators caused losses of more than $500,000 and that the charges are merely accusations.
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Press Release New Jersey Man Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Unemployment Insurance Benefits Wednesday, October 21, 2020 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man made his initial appearance today on charges of engaging in fraud by illegally obtaining unemployment insurance benefits, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. Jefferson Robert, 30, was arrested on Oct. 20, 2020, by inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the FBI. He is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and appeared by videoconference for his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III. According to documents filed in this 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 provided unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who were not eligible for other types of unemployment (e.g., self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers). The CARES Act also created a new temporary federal program called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (FPUC) that provided an additional $600 weekly benefit to those eligible for PUA and regular unemployment insurance benefits. The Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) administered and managed the regular unemployment and PUA programs in the State of Washington. On Aug. 6, 2019, Robert opened a bank account at Bank 1 in the name of “Johny Eto” using a fake United Kingdom passport. On May 8, 2020, an application was made to ESD for unemployment benefits in the name of an individual (Victim 1) using Victim 1’s personal identification information. On May 12, 2020, pursuant to instructions by the individual purporting to be Victim 1, the State of Washington sent a wire transfer into a bank account in the amount of $7,930. This bank account received additional funds from a Business Enterprise Compromise scheme as well as IRS payments resulting from fraudulent activity. Between March 11, 2020, and May 1, 2020, a debit card associated with the bank account was used to purchase approximately 57 U.S. Postal Service money orders totaling $52,000. The “from” information on most of the money orders listed the name “Jefferson Robert” and an address in Newark. Records from New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission reflect that Robert provided that address when obtaining a driver’s license. Robert also used the fraudulent UK passport to open bank accounts at three other banks. These accounts were all frozen or closed due to suspicious activity. For example, on Sept. 19, 2019, a check payable to “Johny Eto” in the amount of $27,400 was deposited into one of those bank accounts. The check was drawn on an account in the name of an individual, who stated that he did not open the account and does not know either Johny Eto or Robert. Robert and his conspirators caused losses of more than $500,000. U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero, in Newark; special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael C. Mikulka, in New York, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark. Please report COVID-19 fraud, hoarding or price-gouging to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or e-mail: disaster@leo.gov . The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. Updated October 21, 2020 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New Jersey Press Release Number: 20-372 Related Content Press Release Two TD Bank Insiders Sentenced for Facilitating Money Laundering, Fraud A New York-based former employee of TD Bank, N.A. was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for facilitating a money laundering network’s movement of millions of dollars through TD... July 16, 2026 Press Release Former Postal Worker and Two Philadelphia Men Admit to Conspiring to Commit Bank Fraud; Mount Laurel Man and Woman Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in Same Conspiracy U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced that: (i) a former U.S. Postal Service employee admitted to stealing checks from the U.S. mail and selling them to others; (ii) a Philadelphia man... July 16, 2026 Press Release Two More Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Analogue Distribution and Money Laundering Conspiracies Two New Jersey men were sentenced this week for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that imported fentanyl analogues from China and distributed them in pill form throughout Northern... July 9, 2026
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