Georgia Courts Sentence Three Defendants for Stealing Tens of Millions in COVID Unemployment Benefits Through Fake Claims
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Georgia Courts Sentence Three Defendants for Stealing Tens of Millions in COVID Unemployment Benefits Through Fake Claims

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment benefits were a vital lifeline for many people out of work.

Unfortunately, some took advantage of this system, ripping off tens of millions of dollars meant to support struggling Georgians.

Recently, three individuals involved in one of the largest fraud schemes against the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL) were sentenced for their roles in stealing millions from these benefits.

Sentences Handed Down to Three Key Players

Macovian Doston, 31, from Vienna, Georgia, received the harshest sentence: 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

He was also ordered to pay restitution, though the exact amount will be decided later.

Shatara Hubbard, 36, from Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to six years in prison and three years of supervised release, along with an order to pay restitution.

Torella Wynn, 33, from Cordele, Georgia, got one year in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a restitution order as well.

The Scale and Mechanics of the Fraud

Court evidence revealed that between March 2020 and November 2022, these three and their partners orchestrated more than 5,000 fake unemployment claims with GaDOL.

Their scheme stole at least $30 million in benefits designed for unemployed individuals.

To pull this off, the conspirators created fake employer accounts and submitted bogus employee lists.

They used stolen personal data from thousands of victims — harvested through multiple shady methods, including paying off a hospital employee to illegally grab patient information.

They also bought personal info from online sources.

With these identities, they filed fraudulent claims and had the stolen funds sent to prepaid debit cards mailed to various locations, disguising the trail of stolen money.

Officials Speak Out on the Investigation and Sentencing

Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said, “The defendants orchestrated a $30 million fraud by using stolen identities to obtain thousands of unemployment insurance payouts under false pretenses.

We will continue to aggressively fight such complex frauds that drain public funds.”

Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, explained, “Doston, Hubbard, and Wynn set up fictitious employers and submitted thousands of fraudulent claims using stolen identities.

We’re committed to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance system from those trying to exploit it.”

Jonathan Ulrich, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, added, “These sentences show we hold accountable those who abuse federal relief programs.

Our teams will keep pursuing fraudsters who try to take advantage of programs created to help people and businesses impacted by the pandemic.”

Joseph V. Cuffari, DHS Inspector General, echoed the commitment to continuing investigations into COVID-19 relief fund misuse and bringing fraudsters to justice.

Earlier Sentences for Other Co-Conspirators

This trio wasn’t alone. Four others charged in the same indictment have already been sentenced:

  • Tyshion Nautese Hicks, 32, of Vienna, Georgia, got 12 years in prison and three years supervised release (October 2024).

  • Kenya Whitehead, 37, of Cordele, Georgia, received 28 months in prison plus supervised release (September 2024).

  • A’Darrion Alexander, 29, of Warner Robins, Georgia, sentenced to 18 months in prison with supervised release (October 2024).

  • Membrish Brown, 29, of Vienna, Georgia, also got 18 months in prison followed by supervised release (May 2024).

Agencies and Legal Teams Behind the Case

Multiple federal agencies joined forces to investigate this sprawling case, including the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, USPS Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

Trial attorneys Lyndie Freeman, Siji Moore, Matthew Kahn, and Andrew Jaco from the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case, leading to these convictions and sentences.

The Ongoing Fight Against COVID-19 Fraud

Back in May 2021, the Attorney General formed the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to pool government resources to prevent and prosecute pandemic-related fraud.

This task force focuses on identifying the worst offenders and strengthening protections for relief programs to keep public funds from being stolen.

If you suspect any fraud related to COVID-19 programs, you can report it through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline or their online complaint form.