New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced the sentencing of Jodi Drygula, of Amsterdam, NY, and Anthony Camou, of Las Vegas, NV, for their roles in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain more than $250,000 in unemployment insurance benefits intended to support New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drygula (52) and Camou (45) were each sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Under her plea agreement, Drygula was ordered to pay $238,193.25 in restitution to the State of New York and $22,572 to the State of California, and she agreed to forfeit $38,900 in fraud proceeds. In addition to his term of incarceration, Camou was ordered to pay at least $56,994 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) and to forfeit $38,641 in fraud proceeds.
According to the investigation, between July 2020 and September 2021, Drygula and Camou submitted false unemployment insurance claims to the NYSDOL using the personal identifying information of three other people. In doing so, they unlawfully exploited emergency pandemic relief programs for personal financial gain.
This case was investigated through a joint effort by the New York State Inspector General, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with support from NYSDOL.
“The COVID-19 pandemic presented one of the greatest challenges in the history of modern public administration, requiring unprecedented speed in delivering benefits to those in need,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “Unfortunately, it also created opportunities for exploitation. These sentences reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that those who steal from public benefit systems will be held accountable. My office will continue to work diligently with our federal and state partners to safeguard taxpayer dollars and protect the integrity of critical public programs, during crises and always.” --->READ MORE HERE
A Southfield, Michigan, woman accused of submitting multiple fraudulent COVID Emergency Rental Assistance applications and receiving nearly $100,000 is heading to trial.
Mariah Davis, 33, waived her preliminary examination Friday and was bound over to trial after state prosecutors allege she submitted at least six fraudulent COVID Emergency Rental Assistance applications from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
Davis was arraigned on July 23 on one count of false pretenses of $50,000 or more but less than $100,000 and one count of using a computer to commit a crime.
"Fraudulent activity diverts resources away from those who truly need them, and I am relieved to see this matter is advancing through the judicial process," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. "My office will continue working with MSHDA to safeguard programs that support Michigan families and protect taxpayer funds."
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority alerted Nessel's office after it identified several alleged fraudulent applications submitted by Davis. State prosecutors allege that Davis received $98,282 in COVID Emergency Rental Assistance funds. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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