Niesha Goodwin, a 37-year-old resident of Albany, has entered a guilty plea to charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft related to pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. Additionally, she pled guilty to firearm and drug distribution charges after authorities discovered a firearm and cocaine base at her home.
The announcement came from United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman along with Jonathan Mellone from the United States Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, Ketty Larco-Ward from the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Erin Keegan from Homeland Security Investigations.
Goodwin confessed that between July 2020 and March 2021, she fraudulently secured over $150,000 in unemployment benefits using stolen identities. She agreed to pay restitution amounting to $151,783 to the New York State Department of Labor.
Furthermore, Goodwin admitted to possessing a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and crack cocaine for distribution in November 2022. Due to her prior robbery conviction, it was illegal for her to possess the firearm. She has consented to forfeit the weapon and abandon seven rounds of ammunition found within it.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2025, by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. Goodwin faces a minimum prison sentence of two years, fines up to $1.75 million, and at least three years of supervised release.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including USDOL-OIG, USPIS, HSI with assistance from the Albany Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck, Joseph S. Hartunian, and Joshua R. Rosenthal.
