U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Three Individuals Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment Assistance on Behalf of Ineligible Persons, Including Prison Inmates (USAO D-AZ 09/19/2024) (2024-09-25)

Summary

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, dated September 19, 2024, announcing sentences for Likishe Jhanell Kelly, 43, of Phoenix, Antoinette Coleman, 36, of Glendale, and Christine Boston, 52, of Mesa, by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich, in case CR 23-0432-PHX-SMB. Kelly received 36 months in prison and $375,094 in restitution; Coleman received five years of probation and $19,678 in restitution; Boston was sentenced on July 9, 2024, to 36 months and $97,596 in restitution. The release states that each pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. According to the release, Boston, then incarcerated, sent inmate information to Kelly and Coleman, and between May 2020 and December 2020 Kelly and co-defendants submitted at least 42 fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications.

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PRESS RELEASE


Three Individuals Sentenced for
Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic
Unemployment Assistance on Behalf of
Ineligible Persons, Including Prison
Inmates
Thursday, September 19, 2024

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

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Likishe Jhanell Kelly, 43, of Phoenix, Antoinette Coleman, 36, of
Glendale, and Christine Boston, 52, of Mesa have been sentenced in connection with a
scheme to use the identities of prison inmates and others to fraudulently obtain federal
unemployment benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
(CARES) Act. All three individuals admitted they facilitated the filing of false claims for
pandemic unemployment benefits by fraudulently using other identities, including those
of imprisoned individuals.

Kelly was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 36
months in prison and mandated to pay $375,094 in restitution to the Arizona
Department of Economic Security (DES). Kelly pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit
Wire Fraud on November 21, 2023. Coleman was also sentenced last week by Judge
Brnovich to five years of probation and mandated to pay $19,678 in restitution to DES.
Coleman pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud on January 16, 2024.
Boston was sentenced by Judge Brnovich on July 9, 2024, to 36 months in prison and
ordered to pay $97,596 in restitution to DES. Boston also pleaded guilty to Conspiracy
to Commit Wire Fraud on January 3, 2024.

Kelly, Coleman, and Boston acknowledged their role in helping file applications for
inmates who did not actually lose their jobs due to COVID. Boston was incarcerated
during the time of this scheme and transmitted the necessary inmate information for the
filing of applications to Kelly and Coleman. Boston emailed Coleman from the Arizona
State Prison in Goodyear to recruit Coleman to facilitate processing inmate applications
for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits. Kelly would then file the fraudulent
applications and weekly certifications in the name of Boston and other inmates. Kelly
compensated Boston for providing the inmate information by depositing money into
her Arizona state prison commissary account.

Additionally, Kelly submitted fraudulent applications and weekly certifications on behalf
of other ineligible individuals, including Coleman. Coleman processed and filed two
fraudulent applications. In total, between May 2020 and December 2020, Kelly and her
co-defendants submitted at least 42 fraudulent applications, obtaining approximately
$375,094 in illicit funds.

“During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded eligibility for
employees to receive unemployment benefits and made it easier to submit an
application,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Sadly, some Arizonans took
advantage of the emergency and defrauded our State. The sentences and restitution
orders imposed in this case send an important deterrent message to those who seek
gains based on others’ misfortune.”

“We appreciate our continuous collaboration with the United States Department of
Labor and the Office of Inspector General to identify and hold accountable those who
exploit the system and engage in Unemployment Insurance fraud,” stated Angie
Rodgers, Director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security. “Our agencies are
resolute in our dedication to preserving the integrity of the unemployment insurance
benefits program.”

The United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Arizona
Department of Economic Security conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S.
Attorney Kristen Brook, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.


CASE NUMBER:          CR 23-0432-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER:      2024-125_Kelly, Boston, Coleman

                                          ###

         For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona,
                           visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Contact
Public Affairs
Zach J. Stoebe
Telephone: (602) 514-7413
zachry.stoebe@usdoj.gov

Updated September 19, 2024


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