BOSTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – Federal prosecutors continue to crackdown on unemployment fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Donna Wasson of San Antonio pleaded guilty in a U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday to three counts of wire fraud.
According to a Department of Justice release, prosecutors said Wasson applied for COVID-19-related unemployment benefits in Massachusetts and lied about her address, the number of dependents she had and claimed she worked in the east coast state.
Investigators said she applied for Massachusetts unemployment benefits via the Texas Workforce Commission.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, administered by the state of Massachusetts, provides unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who are not eligible for others types of unemployment benefits.
Prosecutors said Wasson also helped another former Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance employee file several fraudulent unemployment claims using stolen identities.
Wasson has been jailed pending sentencing scheduled for March 8.
The charge of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
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