Felony COVID-19 Fraud Charges For Mount Prospect Man

MOUNT PROSPECT, IL — A resident is facing a slew of charges following a statewide crackdown on unemployment benefits fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaquanice Larry, 27, of Mt. Prospect, is accused of identity theft, theft of government property, state benefits fraud, theft and forgery, all felonies, and was arrested earlier this week.

"Thousands of struggling Illinois residents and small businesses were forced to rely on unemployment benefits and loans from the Small Business Association during the height of the pandemic," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said Thursday after announcing the arrests of Larry and a number of other people. "Those who used the crisis to commit fraud and steal from the government also slowed the processing of legitimate claims."

Raoul credited the Task Force on Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud and other partner agencies for the charges following months of investigation.

Larry was arraigned Thursday in Will County. Larry is accused of filing for unemployment benefits with the state of Illinois using identifying information he, along with another defendant, stole from three victims. Raoul alleges the pair obtained approximately $75,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits.

Raoul’s office is also alleging Larry filed for Paycheck Protection Program loans in the name of a fictitious company. He received two loans of approximately $20,000 each, and both PPP loans were forgiven by the SBA.