An Inland Empire woman has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $1.7 million in COVID-19 related benefits and loans. Jasmine Unique Mallard-McCarter, also known as "JassyMC," was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong. The court also ordered her to pay restitution of $1,765,407.
Mallard-McCarter pleaded guilty on February 28 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She impersonated others to apply for government benefits online and used personal information from co-conspirators who were not eligible for these benefits.
In addition to committing fraud herself, Mallard-McCarter charged fees to instruct others on how to apply for government benefits without being detected. She also acted as a broker for counterfeit documents including Social Security cards and driver's licenses.
The fraudulent activities were advertised on Instagram under the handles “JassyMc” and “EliteRealEstateandBusiness.” Mallard-McCarter referred to herself as the “Jass of All Trades,” highlighting her ability to file fraudulent applications and broker counterfeit documents.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown prosecuted the case.
The Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021, aiming to combat pandemic-related fraud through collaboration with various government agencies. This task force focuses on investigating large-scale pandemic relief fraud both domestically and internationally.
On September 15, 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central and Eastern Districts of California were selected to lead one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. These teams are tasked with addressing large-scale pandemic relief fraud schemes.
Individuals with information about attempted COVID-19 related fraud can report it via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or through their web complaint form.
