U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Man Sentenced for Using Identities of Prison Inmates to File Fraudulent Unemployment Claims (USAO ED-MI 12/05/2022) (2022-12-12)
Summary
A Department of Justice press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan, dated December 5, 2022, announcing the sentencing of Terrell Dwayne Mason, 40, a man from Novi. According to the release, United States District Judge Denise Page Hood sentenced Mason to 57 months in prison and ordered restitution to the state of Michigan of $423,435. The release states that, according to court records, Mason filed fraudulent unemployment claims between April of 2020 and February of 2021 using the identities of federal and state inmates. It states that Mason pleaded to both wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency conducted the investigation.
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“U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Man Sentenced for Using Identities of Prison Inmates to File Fraudulent Unemployment Claims (USAO ED-MI 12/05/2022) (2022-12-12).”
Original at www.oig.dol.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/u-s-department-of-labor-oig-man-sentenced-for-using-identities-of-pris-ee3c774a5e/
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Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of Michigan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, December 5, 2022
Man Sentenced for Using Identities of Prison Inmates to File
Fraudulent Unemployment Claims
DETROIT - A man from Novi was sentenced for orchestrating an unemployment insurance fraud
scheme aimed at defrauding the State of Michigan and the U.S. Government of funds earmarked for
unemployment assistance during the COVID19 pandemic, announced United States Attorney Dawn
N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement were Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S.
Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca, Federal
Bureau of Investigation, and Juila Dale, Director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Terrell Dwayne Mason, 40, was sentenced to 57 months in prison. In sentencing the defendant,
United States District Judge Denise Page Hood also ordered Mason to pay restitution to the state of
Michigan in the amount of $423,435.
According to court records, between April of 2020 and continuing into February of 2021, Mason filed
fraudulent unemployment claims using the identities of federal and state inmates, knowing that the
inmates were not eligible to receive such benefits. Mason obtained the inmates’ personal identifying
information (PII) from websites on the dark web or from the inmates themselves based on false
representations that he would help them improve their credit ratings. Mason pleaded to both wire
fraud and aggravated identity theft.
“Unemployment insurance is designed to help those in need,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This case is
another example of my office’s commitment to ensuring that people who abuse the system pay the
consequences.”
“Terrell Mason fraudulently applied for benefits intended to assist workers forced to sit idle during
the worst pandemic in a century,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit
Field Office. “This investigation reflects our collective determination to root out and punish criminals
who used a national emergency to steal from American taxpayers.”
“This sentencing is another example of justice being served,” said Michigan UIA Director Julia Dale.
“UIA investigators work closely with our partners throughout law enforcement to prosecute those
who steal or conspire to steal taxpayer money that is meant for deserving workers who have lost a job
through no fault of their own. Let this be a warning to any bad actors who exploit the public’s trust:
We will come after you.”
“The significant sentence in this case underscores the seriousness of the offence. Terrell Mason was
on parole when he filed dozens of fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims in the names of
prisoners who were ineligible for benefits. We will continue to work with our law enforcement and
state partners to investigate those who exploit the unemployment insurance system,“ stated Special
Agent-in-Charge Irene Lindow, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector
General.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Wyse and Mark Chasteen.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of
Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Topic(s):
Financial Fraud
Component(s):
USAO - Michigan, Eastern
Updated December 5, 2022
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