An additional five individuals involved in a pandemic unemployment benefit fraud scheme have been sentenced in the U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia. These sentences are part of a larger case involving 17 defendants accused of defrauding the United States through fraudulent claims.
Christopher Kirk Webb from Raven, Virginia received a 20-month sentence, while Russell Eric Stiltner from Abingdon was sentenced to 24 months. Jessica Dawn Lester from North Tazewell and Cara Camille Bailey from Davenport were each sentenced to 19 months. Justin Warren Meadows from Oakland received an 18-month sentence. All were ordered to pay restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission for their fraudulent claims.
Previously, six other defendants had been sentenced for their involvement. Jonathan Webb, identified as the recruiter who engaged mostly jail inmates to file false claims, was given a 48-month sentence and ordered to pay $150,218 in restitution.
Terrence Brooks Vilacha was sentenced to 18 months with $14,894 in restitution. Joseph Hass received a 27-month sentence and must repay $19,316. Brian Addair was sentenced to 24 months with $22,284 in restitution due.
Stephanie Amber Barton and Hayleigh McKenzie Wolfe each received a sentence of 12 months and one day.
Court documents reveal that between March 2020 and September 2021, Josef Brown, Jonathan Webb, and Crystal Shaw orchestrated a plan using personal identification information from inmates at SWVRJA-Haysi as well as friends and acquaintances. They filed fraudulent unemployment benefit claims on behalf of those who were not eligible.
The total amount stolen by the defendants amounted to $341,205 in pandemic relief funds they were not entitled to receive.
This investigation was part of efforts by the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force conducted by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. The PRAC aims to identify significant risks across programs and agencies regarding COVID-19 spending.
The sentences were announced by Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee along with Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.
Several agencies contributed to this investigation including the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, FBI, U.S. Department of Labor, and Virginia Employment Commission.
Prosecution is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen and Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Stone for the United States.
