A Texas resident, Marc Long, was sentenced on Mar. 25 to two years in prison and ordered to pay $154,744 in restitution after being convicted of defrauding the government by illegally obtaining COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address fraudulent claims made during the distribution of pandemic relief funds. The stolen funds were intended for New Mexico residents affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
According to court records, between July 2020 and February 2021, Long submitted false online unemployment claims using the names and personal information of other individuals through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Neither Long nor those whose identities he used were eligible for these benefits. The fraudulent applications resulted in over $150,000 being deposited into accounts accessible by Long or onto debit cards sent to addresses linked to him in Texas.
Long pleaded guilty to two counts each of wire fraud, mail fraud, and theft of government property. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be subject to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General with assistance from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting this case.
