$1.4M in Unemployment Benefits Stolen By Silver Spring Man

SIlVER SPRING, MD — Diameter Akala, 43, of Silver Spring, pleaded guilty Friday to a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $1.4 million in unemployment benefits.

According to his plea agreement, from 2012 to 2015, Akala and his co-conspirators received Maryland and Pennsylvania unemployment benefits in the names of individuals by submitting false applications. Akala enlisted his friends and family members to join him in the scheme, prosecutors said.

Members of the conspiracy obtained the personally identifying information individuals, then Akala filed fake documents with both states in the names of fictitious companies stating that the individuals were paid wages. In fact, no unemployment insurance taxes were ever paid to either state in the names of the fictitious companies. Akala offered money to co-conspirators in exchange for use of their personal information.

Akala and other members of the conspiracy used residential mailing addresses of co-conspirators in Maryland, New York, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Virginia to receive unemployment benefits in the form of prepaid debit cards.

Co-conspirators Wilfred Mendez, Tawana McClain, Ferny Alexander Moreno Puente, Wilfredo Torres and his half-brother, Eric Gonzalez, admitted that they agreed to have Akala file fraudulent unemployment claims in their names. Mendez, Moreno Puente and Torres also provided the personal identification information and/or addresses of other individuals to file additional false claims in the names of those individuals, and others.

Federal prosecutors say the co-conspirators used the benefits cards at ATMs or stores to withdraw money. Generally, the conspirators kept a portion of the money for themselves and gave the remainder to Akala.

In total, the states paid $1.468 million in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits to Akala, who will be required to pay restitution in that amount.

Akala faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for aggravated identity theft. A sentencing hearing for Akala is set for Aug. 4.

The conspirators -- including Ferny Alexander Moreno Puente, 26, of Gaithersburg -- previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme. Moreno Puente has agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture of $268,911; he will be sentenced on July 14.

Co-conspirator Yaw Bempa-Boateng, 35, of Silver Spring, previously pleaded guilty to a role in the scheme and awaits sentencing.