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.
-
Las Vegas Police seeks man, woman in fatal Spring Valley shooting
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a male and a female believed to be connected to a shooting in Spring Valley that claimed the life of a man.
Witnesses in 12-car crash that killed three people testify in court
Jose Gutierrez faces 10 felony charges, including open murder, after officials say he intentionally sped nearly 100 mph into a line of cars at Cheyenne and Jones on Nov. 18.
2 dead, 1 person hospitalized after shooting in North Las Vegas
A shooting in North Las Vegas leaves two people dead, and another person hospitalized early Sunday morning.
LVMPD: Hit-and-run kills pedestrian in Paradise
LVMPD has shared information regarding a fatal hit-and-run in Paradise, marking the 151st traffic-related death of 2025 in their jurisdicition.
