U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Saint Paul, Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Scheme (USAO WD-VA 04/16/2021) (2021-04-29)

Summary

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Virginia, dated April 16, 2021, announcing that Brittany McReynolds, 32, of Saint Paul, Virginia, pleaded guilty to a two-count Information charging one count of conspiracy to defraud the government and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. McReynolds admitted filing pandemic unemployment claims through the Virginia Employment Commission website with others, including Travis Kilgore, for individuals who were not eligible to receive benefits. The release states that McReynolds re-certified the false statements on numerous occasions and that the conspiracy filed claims for approximately 21 other individuals, causing at least $182,474 in false claims to be paid. Kilgore pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy and mail fraud charges.

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Full text

                                     Department of Justice
                                        U.S. Attorney’s Office
                                    Western District of Virginia


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          Friday, April 16, 2021

Saint Paul, Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment
                         Scheme
ABINGDON, Va. – Brittany McReynolds, a Saint Paul, Virginia woman who conspired with others to
file for fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in
Abingdon to charges she conspired with others to commit mail fraud and defraud the government of
more than $182,474. Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar, Jonathan Mellone, Acting
Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General
and Acting Special Agent in Charge is Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal
Investigation announced the guilty plea today.

McReynolds, 32, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded to a two-count Information charging
her with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government and one count of conspiracy to commit
mail fraud.

“McReynolds took advantage of unemployment funds that were to be provided to those in need
during the pandemic, defrauding these important programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bubar today.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners at the Department of Labor and IRS to ensure
that anyone who steals from these benefit programs is brought to justice.”

“The Unemployment Insurance Program exists to provide needed assistance to qualified individuals
who are unemployed due to no fault of their own. Fraud against the Unemployment Insurance
Program causes state workforce agencies, like the Virginia Employment Commission, to redirect
valuable resources to address fraud and ensure benefits go to individuals who are eligible to receive
them. The Office of Inspector General will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,
the Virginia Employment Commission, and our many law enforcement partners, to investigate those
who exploit the Unemployment Insurance Program,” said Jonathan Mellone, Acting Special Agent-
in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

“The CARES Act and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program have been a lifeline, helping
to sustain taxpayers through these tough times. Sadly, as these programs were being launched to
assist those in need, McReynolds and her co-conspirators found a way to fraudulently take advantage
of the benefits,” said Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Washington DC
Field Office. “These type investigations remain a priority of IRS-CI. We will continue to pursue
justice against those who deceptively obtain pandemic relief funds to enhance themselves
financially.”

McReynolds admitted today that she and others, including her husband Travis Kilgore - who pleaded
guilty last week in U.S. District Court to conspiracy and mail fraud charges -filed claims for
pandemic unemployment benefits through the VEC website. The scheme involved submitting claims
for various individuals who were not eligible to receive pandemic unemployment
benefits. McReynolds and Kilgore lied on the filings as part of the scheme to appear eligible for
benefits. Because pandemic unemployment benefits were paid weekly, McReynolds reverified and
re-certified the false statements on numerous occasions throughout the scheme.
In all, the conspiracy filed claims for approximately 21 other individuals, causing at least $182,474 in
false claims to be have been paid.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector
General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Norton Police Department,
and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is
prosecuting the case for the United States.
Component(s):
USAO - Virginia, Western


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