Muneerah Abdullah, a 45-year-old resident of Chester, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of wire fraud. The charges relate to allegations that she fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits from COVID-19 emergency relief funds. The indictment was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that Abdullah is accused of filing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims for herself and others who were ineligible, including inmates, between April 2020 and October 2020. The scheme allegedly involved false representations about unemployment due to COVID-19, fabricated employment or wage history, and incorrect claims about being able and willing to work full-time.
The PUA program was established under the March 2020 CARES Act to provide unemployment benefits to those not eligible for regular or extended unemployment compensation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin following an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Labor.
If found guilty, Abdullah could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, along with potential fines and supervised release post-imprisonment. It is important to note that indictments are merely allegations; individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
In response to pandemic-related fraud, the Attorney General formed the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021. This task force coordinates efforts across government agencies to investigate and prosecute domestic and international criminal actors involved in such schemes.
The public can report suspected COVID-19 related fraud through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via their online complaint form.
