A man and woman from Forrest County were sentenced in federal court for their involvement in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme linked to the CARES Act. Thaddieus Cooper, 31, received a 27-month prison sentence, while Artista Garner, 37, was sentenced to three years of probation. Both are required to pay $12,600 in restitution to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Court documents revealed that Garner assisted her brother Cooper in applying for unemployment benefits with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. At the time, Cooper was an inmate with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and thus not eligible for such benefits. Garner used the funds for personal gain and transferred some to Cooper's commissary account.
The benefits were federally subsidized through the CARES Act, enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A federal grand jury indicted both individuals on September 10, 2024. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on January 30, 2025.
“These sentences demonstrate that those who defraud the government will be held accountable,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick Lemon. He emphasized that the defendants exploited a program meant to assist families during challenging times.
Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Southeast Region at the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, stated: "Artista Garner engaged in a scheme to defraud... We will continue to work closely with... law enforcement partners."
State Auditor Shad White expressed pride in collaborating with federal prosecutors: “Thank you to my team of investigators and to the prosecutors for bringing this case to a close.”
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General and the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie prosecuted the case as part of the National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force (NUIFTF).
The CARES Act is a federal law designed to provide financial assistance during economic hardships caused by COVID-19, including expanded unemployment insurance eligibility.
Reports of attempted COVID-19-related fraud can be made via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or its web complaint form.
