Coventry Woman Admits To COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Fraud

COVENTRY, RI — A Coventry woman admitted in federal court Monday, she fraudulently applied for and received more than $17,000 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said.

Deanna Alston, 34, admitted to the court that while collecting pandemic related unemployment benefits from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, she filed fraudulent applications with the states of California and Pennsylvania, knowing that she was not entitled to collect benefits from those states. Between July 30, 2020, and Sept. 8, 2020, Alston collected $17,075 in unemployment benefits she was not entitled to receive.

Alston pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27.

This case, as well as other instances of criminal activity related to fraudulent applications for pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits, are being investigated jointly by the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

Rhode Islanders who believe their personal identification has been stolen and used to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits are asked to contact the Rhode Island State Police at financialcrimes@risp.gov or the FBI Providence office at 401-272-8310.