9 Indicted In CARES Act COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Scheme

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging nine defendants, some who are from Prince George's County, in relation to a Maryland and California CARES Act COVID-19 unemployment insurance scheme.

The indictment charges the defendants with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and theft of United States Postal Office arrow keys.

Charged in the indictment are:

Dementrous Von Smith, a/k/a “El Meecho,” 26, of Waldorf, Maryland;
Nadine Mahoro Mwamikazi, 25, of Silver Spring, Maryland;
Sky Tiffany Lawson, 28, of Bowie, Maryland;
Christopher Thomas Yancy, a/k/a “Lil Bhris,” 30, of Laurel, Maryland;
Sayquan Leon Bridges, a/k/a “Quan,” 27, of Bowie, Maryland;
Christian Malik Adrea, a/k/a “Lil Leak,” 24, of Michellville, Maryland;
Stephawn Malik Watson, a/k/a “O-Dawg,” 26, of District Heights, Maryland;
Aiyanna Mone Washington, a/k/a “Yanna,” 26, of Glenarden, Maryland.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, unscrupulous individuals lined their own pockets with funds intended to aid struggling families,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron, said. “Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who commit CARES Act COVID-19 fraud.”

According to the 40-count indictment, from February 2020 to October 2021, the defendants allegedly conspired to obtain numerous victims' birthdates, social security numbers and other personal identifying information to prepare and submit fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits in Maryland and California. As part of the scheme to defraud, the defendants allegedly caused financial institutions to load UI benefits onto debit cards and mail the cards to physical addresses provided and monitored by the defendants, according to the district attorney's office.

The indictment alleges that once the defendants received the fraudulently obtained funds, the defendants made cash withdrawals and used the cash for their own financial benefit. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants submitted more than 200 fraudulent UI claims and resulted in a loss of more than $1.6 million dollars. The indictment continues to allege that in October 2021, Yancy unlawfully possessed a United States Postal Service arrow key with intent to improperly use the key.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the conspiracy as well as each count of wire fraud and two years in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft. Yancy faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for unlawfully possessing stolen United States Postal Service arrow keys. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.