Middlesex County Man Admits To $11M Pandemic Relief Scam

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — A New Brunswick man is one of eight people who admitted running a bank fraud scheme where they stole checks issued by the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of the checks were issued by the U.S. Dept. of Treasury. They were refunds issued as Employee Retention Credits, a program the IRS created during the pandemic to encourage businesses to retain employees.

From March 2023 through June 2025, the eight people conspired to deposit stolen checks — including U.S. Department of Treasury checks — at various banks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

They impersonated the businesses or individuals listed as payees on the stolen checks, often by acquiring business documents in the names of the payees.

Once they acquired fraudulent business documents or opened fraudulent bank accounts, they deposited the stolen checks and split the proceeds.

In total, they deposited or attempted to deposit over 100 Treasury and commercial checks totaling over $11 million.

Eight defendants admitted depositing the stolen checks and withdrawing the funds, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced here Tuesday. All eight pleaded guilty in Trenton federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud:

• Britany Brown, 39, of Philadelphia

• Clarence Semmon, 42, of Trenton

• Joseph Graves-Carmichael, 43, of Trenton

• Andrew Hooper, 38, of New Brunswick, pleaded guilty July 22

• Thomas Lee, 56, of Beverly, New Jersey

• Patricia Kearse, 47, of Philadelphia

• Shabazz Rouzard, 34, of Ewing, New Jersey

• John Gerard Ebert, 42, of Hamilton, New Jersey

Many of the Treasury checks were refunds issued as Employee Retention Credits, a program the Internal Revenue Service created during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage businesses to retain employees.

All eight are facing up to 30 years in prison.