Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan | Department of Justice
A resident of West Bloomfield was sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a scheme that defrauded multiple states’ unemployment insurance programs, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Arron Howard, 33, received a sentence of 41 months after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Court documents show that Howard obtained more than $626,000 by filing fraudulent unemployment claims on behalf of dozens of individuals. He kept part of the funds for himself and submitted false applications in Arizona, California, and Michigan.
Judge Mark A. Goldsmith presided over the sentencing and ordered Howard to pay $626,960.88 in restitution.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind prosecuted the case.
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