U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Former State Contractor Sentenced for Stealing Unemployment Insurance Benefits (USAO ED-MI 01/18/2024) (2024-01-24)

Summary

Press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, dated January 18, 2024, announcing that Autumn Mims of Detroit was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith to 5 years and 5 months in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft and conspiring to engage in wire fraud. According to court records, Mims, a contract Unemployment Insurance Examiner for the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, began in August 2020 to use insider access to process claims in the names of third parties without their knowledge. The release states that Mims and co-defendant William Haynes altered direct deposit information, completed false certifications and withdrew benefits issued to third parties, and that Mims also claimed benefits for herself. Mims was ordered to pay $583,409 in restitution.

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Full text

PRESS RELEASE



Former State Contractor
Sentenced for Stealing
Unemployment Insurance
Benefits
Thursday, January 18, 2024

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan

DETROIT – A Detroit resident was sentenced today for her role in a scheme to steal
unemployment assistance funds, announced United States Attorney Dawn N.
Ison. Autumn Mims, 31, was sentenced to 5 years and 5 months in prison after having
pleaded guilty to engaging in aggravated identity theft and conspiring to engage in
wire fraud. Co-defendant William Haynes, 27, will be sentenced next month.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division; Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-
Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General; and
Julia Dale, Director of the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency

Mims was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith.

Mims was a contract employee for the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance
Agency (MUIA), working as an Unemployment Insurance Examiner. Her duties included
reviewing, processing, and verifying the legitimacy of unemployment insurance claims.

Mims and Haynes admitted to conspiring together to obtain illegitimate uninsurance
benefits issued in the names of third parties.

According to court records, shortly after Mims began working with the Michigan
Unemployment Insurance Agency in August 2020, she began using her insider access to
fraudulently process claims in the names of third parties without their knowledge or
authorization. As part of the scheme, Mims and/or Haynes (1) altered direct deposit
information for third-party unemployment insurance assistance; (2) accessed third-party
unemployment insurance assistance claim information without authorization; (3)
completed false and fraudulent certifications for third-party unemployment insurance
assistance benefits; (4) opened unauthorized bank accounts in the names of third
parties; (5) conducted cash withdrawals of unemployment insurance assistance issued in
the names of third parties; and (6) conducted financial transactions utilizing
unemployment insurance assistance funds issued in the names of third parties.

Mims also admitted that while she was working with the MUIA and executing her fraud,
she was also fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance benefits for herself by
falsely claiming that she was unemployed.

Mims was also ordered to pay $583,409 in restitution.

United States Attorney Ison stated: “We remain committed to prosecuting those who
choose to enrich themselves by stealing government funds earmarked for those
members of our community who are truly in need.”

“The defendant’s decision to conspire in order to obtain unlawful uninsurance benefits
for personal profit while businesses and families were struggling during the COVID-19
pandemic is unconscionable,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the
FBI in Michigan. “Further, Ms. Mims’ actions were a direct betrayal of the public trust
granted to her as a contract Unemployment Insurance Examiner for the State of
Michigan. Providing false information and using stolen identities to fraudulently gain
access to relief funds is a theft of taxpayer money. The FBI remains committed to
working with our network of law enforcement partners to investigate and hold those
accountable who seek to personally profit and defraud government assistance
programs.”

"Autumn Mims, a former contract employee for the State of Michigan Unemployment
Insurance Agency (MUIA), conspired with William Haynes to defraud the state of
Michigan and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Mims abused her
access to MUIA systems to fraudulently process unemployment insurance (UI) claims
that Haynes had fraudulently certified, the proceeds of which were deposited into bank
accounts that they controlled,” stated Special Agent-in-Charge Irene Lindow, Great
Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “We and our law
enforcement partners are committed to identifying and prosecuting the criminals who
took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic by fraudulently obtaining pandemic UI
benefits using stolen identities.”
“Autumn Mims’ criminal scheme tarnished all the critical and tireless work that staff at
the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency performed during a global pandemic
that hit Michigan hard. She does not by any stretch reflect the outstanding work habits
of UIA’s professional employees, who abide by strict ethics and security clearance
policies,” said MUIA Director Julia Dale. “I am proud of the dedication demonstrated
every day in service to their fellow Michiganders and employers. UIA will continue to
work with law enforcement at the local, state, and federal level to ensure that bad actors
are brought to justice.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind. The
investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector
General, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, and
the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic
Opportunity.

Updated January 18, 2024

Topic
CORONAVIRUS


Component
USAO - Michigan, Eastern


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