Camden County Man Illegally Collected Unemployment Benefits, Feds Say

NEWARK, NJ — A Camden County man was charged in connection with making false unemployment claims, according to the U.S. Attorney General's Office.

Between July 2020 and October 2020, unemployment insurance applications were made in 10 different states in the name of Willie Carter, a 22-year-old from Bellmawr, the U.S. Attorney said.

The same internet protocol (IP) address was used in each of these applications and later associated with approximately 34 unemployment insurance benefits claims to various states, which paid out about $150,000, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Some of that money was transferred into two bank accounts that were in Carter’s name, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Carter was charged with one count of wire fraud and released on $150,000 bond, according to the U.S. Attorney.

The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits or gross loss, whichever is greatest, the U.S. Attorney said.

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