RI Man Admits To Fraudulent COVID-19 Unemployment Claims

Cranston RI

20 December, 2021

2:12 PM

Description

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Providence man admitted to using stolen identities to fraudulently apply for unemployment insurance in several states, Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha's Office said. Courtney Hilaire, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, fourteen counts of wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to possess more than fifteen unauthorized access devices and possession of device making equipment. Hilaire was indicted on 17 charges in April. In court, Hilaire confessed to working with others to file fraudulent claims from the Economic Injury Disaster Loans program, administered by the Small Business Administration. The program was created to assist people who were unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hilaire and his accomplices used stolen Social Security numbers, dates of birth and other personal information to file claims in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Florida, Nevada and Tennessee. In July 2020, Hilaire and several others were arrested in Warwick, when police found them sleeping inside a stolen car at a hotel parking lot. Inside the car, police found 33 counterfeit credit cards, fake drivers licenses from several states, equipment to read and transfer information onto credit card magnetic strips, listings of identities and other information and around $13,000 in "clean, crisp" $100- and $50-dollar bills. Hilaire is set to be sentenced March 30, 2022.