Seattle Pair Indicted In $1M COVID Fraud Scheme

Seattle WA

12 November, 2021

2:20 PM

Description

SEATTLE — Two Seattle-area residents were indicted in federal court this week on 16 fraud-related charges alleging they used dozens of stolen identities to obtain more than $1 million in jobless benefits and COVID-19 relief loans. Bryan Alan Sparks, 40, and Autumn Gail Luna, 22, are accused of stealing more than $500,000 with fraudulent unemployment claims, using personal information stolen from more than 50 Washingtonians. Federal prosecutors allege they had the fraudulent benefits loaded on debit cards and mailed to addresses around Puget Sound where they could retrieve them, including locations in Seattle, Lynnwood, Des Moines and Auburn. Related: Up To $1.1 Billion Lost By WA Unemployment System In 2020: Audit Using the same stolen identities, prosecutors allege Sparks and Luna applied for small business relief loans funded by the CARES Act, receiving more than $520,000 from the Small Business Administration. Both face federal conspiracy charges, four counts of aggravated identity theft, five counts of mail fraud and six counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors said the pair also used personal information to make counterfeit driver's licenses and obtain fraudulent licenses from the state and maintained meticulous ledgers on each stolen identity, credit card and financial transaction. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Sparks and Luna were arrested in Union Station in Washington, D.C., carrying cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. If convicted on all counts, each could face more than 30 years in prison.