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(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) The U.S. Attorney's office for the western district of North Carolina said Monday it indicted a Charlotte man for allegedly fraudulently receiving over $60,000 in coronavirus-relief benefits, according to WBTW.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office, Rashawn Prioleau, 35, allegedly filed fraudulent claims for COVID-19 unemployment insurance using stolen information from identity theft victims.
From April to September 2020, Prioleau allegedly obtained personal identifying information from seven people, including names, Social Security numbers and birthdays, and used the information to file for unemployment benefits in North Carolina and South Carolina. He reportedly directed the money to personal accounts he controlled for his own use.
Prioleau also reportedly used false information to apply for two Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
In total, Prioleau allegedly received around $60,397 in government-funded COVID-19 benefits.
The Charlotte man now faces nine counts of bank fraud, two counts of making a false statement to the Small Business Administration and two counts of aggravated identify theft.
If convicted on all the charges, Prioleau could face decades in prison and millions in fines.