Ten Metro Detroiters sentenced in $4.8 million unemployment benefits fraud scheme

(CBS DETROIT)In nine states, including Michigan, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has sentenced ten individuals to federal prison for their roles in an unemployment benefits fraud conspiracy.

Jaylin Davis, 23, of Oak Park, and Marcellus Dunham, 23, of Redford, both entered guilty pleas to charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Davis received a sentence of four years and six months, while Dunham received a term of eight years and six months.

Accusations of conspiracy to commit wire fraud have been entered by Daniel Holt, 22, of Wixom; Day’on Holt, 23 of Detroit; Daveontae White, 25 of Detroit; Armani Haller, 23, of Sterling Heights; Laron Stroud, 24 of Detroit; Jaylin Qualls, 24 of Harper Woods; Cheikh Sene, 24 of Southfield; and Deleonte Rogers, 24 of Detroit.

Haller, White, and Daniel Holt received two-year sentences. Sene and Rogers received three-year sentences, Day’on Holt received two years and eight months, Stroud received a one-year and six-month sentence, and Qualls received a one-year sentence.

A joint reparation order of $4,856,471 is imposed on all ten individuals.

According to federal officials, between April 2020 and August 2021, the defendants submitted almost 700 unemployment claims in Michigan and eight other states, including California and Arizona. The funds were placed onto pre-paid cards that were used to make ATM withdrawals.

According to officials, the people were seen on camera using the ATM more than 1,500 times and taking out more than $4.8 million.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison stated, “We are still dedicated to bringing charges against individuals who decide to enrich themselves by embezzling government funds intended for our community’s most vulnerable members.”

At CBS Detroit, DeJanay Booth-Singleton works as a digital producer. She discusses a range of subjects, including politics, business, and crime.

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