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U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Lawrence Woman Arrested for Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic (USAO D-MA 04/02/2021) (2021-04-08)

Summary

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts, dated April 2, 2021, announcing the arrest of Raquel Pena, 40, of Lawrence, who was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. As alleged in the complaint, Pena and others conspired to file fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims using others' personally identifiable information, and Pena recruited acquaintances to receive the proceeds into their bank accounts and hand over cash. The release states that the investigation allegedly connected Pena and co-conspirators to more than $300,000 in unemployment claims between May 2020 and March 2021. Pena was released on conditions after an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

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Cite this document

“U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Lawrence Woman Arrested for Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic (USAO D-MA 04/02/2021) (2021-04-08).” Original at www.oig.dol.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/u-s-department-of-labor-oig-lawrence-woman-arrested-for-identity-theft-754dcf19f2/, SHA-256 2696e4b3dbb5f10aa865a01f1633edbe514d501f0d66459c7b96d578393b6d74.

Full text

                                      Department of Justice
                                        U.S. Attorney’s Office
                                      District of Massachusetts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            Friday, April 2, 2021

      Lawrence Woman Arrested for Identity Theft and
     Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Lawrence woman was arrested today in connection with her alleged involvement in a
scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.

Raquel Pena, 40, was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire
fraud and aggravated identity theft. Pena was released on conditions after an initial appearance in
federal court in Boston.

According to the charging documents, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
(“CARES Act”) created a temporary federal unemployment insurance program called Pandemic
Unemployment Assistance (PUA). PUA, administered by the Massachusetts Department of
Unemployment Assistance, provides unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not
eligible for other types of unemployment benefits (e.g., the self-employed, independent contractors
or gig economy workers). As alleged in the complaint, Pena and others conspired to file fraudulent
claims for PUA using others’ personally identifiable information. Pena recruited acquaintances to
receive the proceeds of the fraudulent claims into their bank accounts, withdraw all or a portion of
those funds and give the cash to Pena. The investigation allegedly connected Pena and her co-
conspirators to more than $300,000 in unemployment claims between May 2020 and March 2021.

The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to
20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of
aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served
consecutively to any other sentenced imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolanta, Special Agent in Charge
of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; and Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of Department of
Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations made the announcement today. The
Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance provided assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud
Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Topic(s):                                              Component(s):
Financial Fraud                                        USAO - Massachusetts
Identity Theft

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Original
www.oig.dol.gov
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