UMVA has learned that the Trump administration's crackdown on fraud is intensifying, with a series of high-profile convictions announced in the latest installment of "Fraud Friday."
In a major victory, Michigan rapper Jaiswan "J'Swan" Williams has been sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison for masterminding a $63 million scheme involving stolen mail and online check trafficking. Williams had already admitted to stealing $1.5 million in fraudulent pandemic unemployment insurance claims using the stolen identities of dozens of innocent Americans.
Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito, who has made rooting out fraud and abuse a central mission of his office, sent a clear message: "No amount of celebrity status will shield you from justice. We will find you and we will prosecute you."
Another significant case involves Kiara Smith, a former contractor at the Maryland Department of Labor, who was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison plus one year of supervised release. Smith and her co-conspirators stole over $3.5 million in unemployment insurance benefits, and she'll pay back every cent — $3.5 million in restitution plus a $275,000 criminal forfeiture.
D'Esposito emphasized that those who abuse their position to commit fraud will face severe consequences: "We have zero tolerance for insiders who abuse their access to cheat the American people. If you use your position to commit fraud, we will turn your scheme into a prison sentence."
A third case involves Jackie Smith, an Illinois woman, who was sentenced to over 3 years in federal prison for her role in a multi-state scheme that defrauded unemployment insurance programs of roughly $100,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She owes more than $95,000 in restitution and faces three additional years of supervised release.
D'Esposito warned that exploiting a national crisis for personal gain is a serious crime: "Exploiting a national crisis to line your pockets is not only reprehensible. It's criminal. You don't get to profit off a pandemic."
The Inspector General concluded by vowing to pursue all fraudsters, regardless of their status or the amount of money involved: "We will continue to pursue every last fraudster who thought they could take advantage of you, the American people... If you defraud the American people, we will find you. We will investigate you and we will bring you to justice."
