Jesus Ramos, also known as Manny, of Dunkirk, New York, pleaded guilty on Mar. 25 to theft of government funds in federal court. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case centers on fraudulent applications for unemployment assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Ramos provided his identification and social security number to co-defendant Lamont Brown in July 2020 with the knowledge that this information would be used to obtain money he was not entitled to. Ramos later received a check for $11,454 from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, which he deposited into an account owned by Brown at Lake Shore Savings Bank. These funds were then withdrawn and spent.
Ramos did not live or work in Puerto Rico and was therefore not eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) funds issued by the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources. The total loss attributed to Ramos and others involved in this scheme is reported as $67,524.
Brown has already been convicted in connection with this case and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General under Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone for the Northeast Region. Sentencing for Ramos is scheduled before Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. on July 24.
