Pair stole IDs of prison inmates to get $2.1 million in benefits in California, feds say

Two California residents are accused of stealing $2.1 million in COVID-19 jobless benefits using stolen identities of prison inmates and others, federal prosecutors reported.

The two San Bernardino County residents, ages 43 and 53, face charges of mail fraud, use of unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said in a Nov. 5 news release.

The pair submitted 124 false applications for unemployment benefits through a COVID-19 relief program from 2020 to 2023, prosecutors said.

The applications used the stolen identities of prison inmates, who are not eligible for relief, and others, prosecutors said. The applications falsely said their employment had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in California.

But many of the supposed applicants did not even live in California, prosecutors said.

The two pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on bail, federal officials said. If convicted, they face up to more than 130 years in prison.

This story was originally published November 12, 2024 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Pair stole IDs of prison inmates to get $2.1 million in benefits in California, feds say."