Rhode Island man pleads guilty to pandemic relief fraud
PROVIDENCE, RI (AP) – A man from Rhode Island has pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to file fraudulent claims for COVID-19 unemployment assistance funds in multiple states using stolen social security numbers and other personal information, federal prosecutors said.
Courtney Hilaire, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to several counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of device manufacturing equipment and other offenses, according to a statement from the Office of the US attorney in Providence.
Hilaire and others used stolen social security numbers, dates of birth, and other personally identifying information when filing fraudulent claims for the Economic Disaster Loans Program in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania , New York, California, Florida, Nevada and Tennessee, authorities mentioned.
The program was created to help people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Hilaire was arrested in July 2020 when he and others were found asleep in a stolen car parked in the parking lot of a Warwick hotel, authorities said. Police also found 33 counterfeit credit cards, fraudulent driver’s licenses, equipment used to read and transfer information on credit card magnetic strips, the identification information of others and $ 13,000 in cash in the car, prosecutors said.
Judgment is scheduled for March 30.