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NY Man Indicted in Major COVID-19 Unemployment Benefit Fraud
Jose Tavares of Bronx, NY, faces charges for conspiring to steal over $444,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits, highlighting a significant COVID-19 fraud case.
NEWARK, N.J. – In a notable case of pandemic-related fraud, Jose Tavares, 35, of Bronx, New York, has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as part of a scheme to illegally obtain substantial COVID-19 unemployment benefits. This indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, highlights the ongoing issue of fraud related to pandemic relief efforts.
Court documents and statements reveal that from July 2020 through February 2021, Tavares, along with Yanira Abreu and Christopher Valerio of New Jersey, used false and fraudulent applications to exploit the New York Department of Labor's unemployment insurance program. The trio created fictitious online profiles using stolen personal information, including names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers, to file claims without the individuals' consent.
This elaborate scheme led to the illegal acquisition of unemployment benefits amounting to $444,738. The funds, loaded onto debit cards, were used for personal gain by Tavares and his co-conspirators. Both Abreu and Valerio have already entered guilty pleas in connection with this fraud.
The charge of wire fraud carries a significant penalty, with a potential 20-year prison sentence and a fine up to $250,000 or double the amount of financial gain or loss resulting from the crime.
The indictment is the result of an investigation led by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations Newark, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark is representing the government in this case.
This indictment is part of the wider efforts of the District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, a component of the national strategy to combat pandemic-related fraud. The Strike Force focuses on large-scale, multi-state fraud cases, working to identify and prosecute those who have exploited pandemic relief funds.
As the Department of Justice continues its crackdown on COVID-19 relief fraud, this case serves as a reminder of the ongoing vigilance required in safeguarding pandemic relief efforts. The public is encouraged to report any suspicions of fraud involving COVID-19 relief to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline.
The allegations in the indictment are currently just that – allegations. Tavares, like all defendants in the U.S. legal system, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
