U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson | U.S. Department of Justice
A Las Vegas resident, Deandra Michelle Smith, has admitted guilt in a case involving the misuse of an unemployment insurance benefits debit card. The card, issued by the California Employment Development Department (EDD), was in another individual's name and used without authorization.
Smith, aged 39, entered a guilty plea for conducting illegal transactions with access devices belonging to another person. Her sentencing is scheduled for February 19, 2025, before United States District Judge Jennifer Dorsey. Smith could face up to 35 years in prison.
Court documents reveal that around March or April 2020, Smith assisted a friend in filing for unemployment insurance with the California EDD. The friend received benefits via an EDD debit card until resuming employment in December 2020. Despite being instructed to halt the unemployment claim, Smith failed to notify the California EDD. Consequently, between January 22 and August 17, 2021, she used the debit card to obtain over $16,100 for personal expenses.
At the time of these offenses, Smith was on pretrial release after pleading guilty to similar charges involving a family member's personal information.
Quentin Heiden from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) stated: “Deandra Smith engaged in a scheme to defraud DOL’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program by using a friend’s personally identifiable information to obtain UI benefits without the friend’s permission or consent. Despite being previously prosecuted and convicted for similar conduct, Smith exploited the UI program."
The case was announced by United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent Quentin Heiden from DOL-OIG Western Region. The investigation was conducted by DOL-OIG and Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn is leading prosecution efforts.
In response to pandemic-related frauds like this one, the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established by the Attorney General in May 2021. This task force aims to strengthen efforts against fraudulent activities related to relief programs during COVID-19 through collaboration across various government agencies.
Reports on attempted COVID-19 fraud can be submitted via phone at 866-720-5721 or through an online complaint form provided by the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud.
