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U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Worcester Man Sentenced for Drug Offense and Wire Fraud (USAO D-MA 11/22/2023) (2023-11-28)

Summary

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts, dated November 22, 2023, announcing that Augustus "Bobo" Kormah, 33, a Worcester man, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 131 months in prison and three years of supervised release, with restitution and forfeiture of $258,705. The release states that Kormah pleaded guilty in June 2023 to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of wire fraud. According to the release, between approximately May and October 2020 Kormah used the personal identifying information of over 50 individuals to submit approximately 125 fraudulent claims for COVID-19 unemployment benefits and 15 fraudulent claims for COVID-19 small business loans, obtaining approximately $100,000 and approximately $170,000.

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Cite this document

“U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Worcester Man Sentenced for Drug Offense and Wire Fraud (USAO D-MA 11/22/2023) (2023-11-28).” Original at www.oig.dol.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/u-s-department-of-labor-oig-worcester-man-sentenced-for-drug-offense-a-98bab5211d/, SHA-256 6813becb4191885f03488381c269f8849139647198bb777e76046aae7148c852.

Full text

PRESS RELEASE



Worcester Man Sentenced for Drug
Offense and Wire Fraud
Wednesday, November 22, 2023


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


Defendant used personal identifying information of over 50
individuals to submit approximately 125 fraudulent claims for
unemployment benefits

BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for
possessing cocaine intended for distribution and wire fraud with respect to COVID-19
relief programs.

Augustus “Bobo” Kormah, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy
S. Hillman to 131 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Kormah was
also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $258,705. In June 2023, Kormah pleaded
guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of
wire fraud.

On Sept. 11, 2020, Kormah was arrested following a suspected drug transaction.
Following his arrest, a search of Kormah’s apartment resulted in the seizure of
approximately 26 grams of cocaine, an un-serialized Polymer 80 9mm firearm and a
black magazine loaded with 30 9mm cartridges.

A subsequent investigation revealed that, between approximately May and October
2020, Kormah used the personal identifying information of over 50 individuals to submit
approximately 125 fraudulent claims for COVID-19 unemployment benefits as well as 15
fraudulent claims for COVID-19 small business loans. As a result of the fraud scheme,
Kormah obtained approximately $100,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits and
approximately $170,000 in fraudulent small business loans.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson Special Agent in
Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division;
Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston
Field Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office
of Inspector General; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the
announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun of the Criminal Division and Danial
Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all
levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and
gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the
Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on
these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting
community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first
place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Updated November 22, 2023

Topics
DRUG TRAFFICKING

FINANCIAL FRAUD
Component
USAO - Massachusetts

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2023-11-28-Worcester-Man-Sentenced-for-Drug-Offense-and-Wire-Fraud-USAO-D-MA-11-22-2023.pdf
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503,389 bytes
SHA-256
6813becb4191885f03488381c269f8849139647198bb777e76046aae7148c852
Our copy
2023-11-28-Worcester-Man-Sentenced-for-Drug-Offense-and-Wire-Fraud-USAO-D-MA-11-22-2023.pdf
Original
www.oig.dol.gov
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