A Lexington, Kentucky resident, Tommie Joyner, 45, has admitted guilt to charges of wire fraud in a scheme to unlawfully acquire COVID-19 pandemic relief benefits. The plea was entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward Atkins.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in 2020 to provide financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. It introduced new unemployment compensation programs funded by the federal government and managed by state workforce agencies. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was authorized to offer lost wage assistance as a supplement to unemployment compensation programs. The CARES Act also expanded existing federal programs like the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), designed to aid small businesses affected by economic disasters.
According to court documents, Joyner submitted false information between March 2020 and June 2022 to secure funds from various government relief initiatives. He fabricated details regarding his employment history, residence, and business activities in applications for relief funds. On May 19, 2020, he filed a fraudulent unemployment benefits application with Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency claiming residency in Detroit while residing in Lexington. This misrepresentation led to him receiving $15,269.76 in unemployment assistance.
Joyner also applied for pandemic unemployment benefits across several states including Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and New York using false statements. Approved applications in New York and Indiana resulted in him obtaining $83,925.47 in benefits. Furthermore, he sought two EIDLs totaling $62,500 from the SBA but only received $1,000 due to denied applications containing falsehoods.
Paul McCaffrey of the Eastern District of Kentucky's U.S Attorney’s Office; Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D., Inspector General of DHS-OIG; and Mathew Broadhurst from DOL-OIG announced Joyner's guilty plea jointly.
The investigation was carried out by DHS-OIG and DOL-OIG with Assistant U.S Attorney Brittany Dunn-Pirio handling prosecution duties.
Joyner is set for sentencing on August 22nd this year facing up to 20 years imprisonment alongside a restitution payment of at least $100,195.23 pending considerations under U.S Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.
The Attorney General launched the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17th last year aiming at combating pandemic-related fraud through enhanced inter-agency collaboration efforts among other measures detailed online via https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Reports concerning attempted COVID-19 fraud can be directed towards DOJ’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through their Web Complaint Form available at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
