A man from Natchez, Mississippi, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with fraudulent unemployment insurance claims made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kev’Veonta Short, 32, admitted in court that he worked with other inmates at the South Mississippi Correctional Institute to submit false unemployment claims.
According to court documents and statements presented in court, Short gave his personal information to another inmate who then used it to file fraudulent unemployment applications on his behalf. Similar false claims were submitted for several other inmates as part of the scheme.
Two other individuals involved in the case, Adrian Wilson and Aaron Sanders, have already entered guilty pleas for their roles in the conspiracy. Wilson is set for sentencing on June 23, 2026, while Sanders will be sentenced on June 11, 2026. Short’s sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2026. Each faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The investigation into this case is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Office of the Public Auditor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner is handling the prosecution.
