DETROIT – A multi-million dollar pandemic fraud scheme that stretched across 17 states has finally unraveled, landing six Metro Detroit residents and two California brothers behind bars.
According to authorities, the eight people led by DeAngelo Jackson-Portwood, orchestrated a $7.7 million pandemic fraud scheme targeting the Small Business Administration (SBA) and state unemployment programs.
Between early 2020 and May 2021, the group illegally obtained personal information — including names and social security numbers — to file more than 1,000 fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims across 17 states, securing over $5.6 million, primarily from Michigan and California workforce agencies.
The group also filed nearly 600 fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans in the names of various businesses, obtaining more than $2 million.
The applications misrepresented applicant information, including the identity of the applicant and eligibility for relief. Many applications were submitted using the identities of theft victims.
Some of the businesses listed in the loan requests did not even exist.
All eight people pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges.
Timothy Boyle, the last of the group to be sentenced, received his sentence on Monday, Feb. 2.
They are ordered to pay $7,703,549 in restitution to the SBA and various state workforce agencies.
NameCitySentenceDeAngelo Jackson-PortwoodDetroit61 months in federal prisonAnton GreenwoodDetroit42 months in federal prisonAdartha TillmanRoseville40 months in federal prisonMaurice Brown-PortwoodClinton Township22 months in federal prisonTaurean DavisDetroit12 months in federal prisonChristopher LindsayDetroit3 years probabtionTyrone BoyleLos Angeles, California3 years probationTimothy BoyleLos Angeles, California3 years probation
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