LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A federal grand jury has indicted a Las Vegas man for an alleged fraud scheme to steal more than $500,000 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
The suspect, Craig Renard Gibson, is charged with five counts of bank fraud, one count of illegal transactions with access devices and four counts of aggravated identity theft, according to federal prosecutors.
Court documents show Gibson was allegedly one of several individuals between August 2020 and December 2020 who had stolen debit cards containing unemployment insurance benefits from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation and the California Employment Development Department.
Prosecutors say Gibson and others "illegally withdrew over $500,000 in funds from these cards."
RELATED | 3 men sentenced for stealing over $520K in COVID unemployment benefits
“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving the unemployment insurance program. This collaborative investigative effort with our local, state, and federal partners reaffirms our commitment to investigate these types of allegations,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Gibson faces up to 162 years in prison and a fine of $5.25 million if he is convicted.
A jury trial has been set for October 20.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 1-866- 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdfdisaster-complaint-form.
-
Sentencing for 'Dances with Wolves' actor Nathan Chasing Horse delayed one week
"Dances with Wolves" actor Nathan Chasing Horse faces a minimum sentence of 25 years to life in prison after he was found guilty of 13 sex crimes charges in January.
New details emerge in North Las Vegas infant kidnapping case
New details about an investigation in North Las Vegas that led to an AMBER Alert are revealed in arrest documents obtained by Channel 13.
Over 100 pounds of methamphetamine seized in Las Vegas traffic stop, HSI shares
This "joint interdiction operation" was carried out on Mar. 4 with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), and resulted in the arrest of Victor Luis Arriola, HSI shared.
Suspect arrested in Utah in connection to fatal shooting of woman, toddler
Ziaire Ham, 22, was arrested by the Ogden City Police Department and Utah Highway Patrol on Tuesday. He will face a charge of open murder with a deadly weapon once extradited back to Las Vegas.
