Massachusetts State News by Ken Fulton, East Coast Crime and Justice Bureau Chief
A Massachusetts identity thief helped steal more than $250,000 in unemployment benefits.
Lilly Nguyen, 24, pleaded guilty for her part in a COVID-relief and identity theft scheme. She now faces up to 20 years in prison and a hefty fine for her role in the fraud.
Nguyen submitted fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims using stolen identities. Lily Nguyen and a co-conspirator are connected to more than $250,000 in fraudulent unemployment claims dating between April and December 2020.
Coincidentally, the fine for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge that Nguyen pleaded guilty to is also $250,000. Lilly Nguyen also faces up to 20 years in prison on that charge alone. The aggravated identity theft charge against her carries a mandatory sentence of 2 years in prison to be served consecutively with other sentences and another fine of $250,000.
For those doing the math, Nguyen faces up to 22 years in prison and twice the amount in fines that she and her co-conspirator are connected to in fraudulent unemployment claims.