A Tolleson, Arizona man admitted to possessing multiple unemployment benefits debit cards — all in different names — and intending to fraudulently obtain nearly $223,000 in benefits to be paid to him. Delashaun Dean pleaded guilty to one count of possession of counterfeit and unauthorized access devices in Nevada.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 11, 2021.
According to the Department of Justice, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department found 15 unemployment insurance benefits debit cards issued by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) on Dean and in his hotel room. The debit cards were all in different names, not in Dean’s name. In addition, law enforcement found a fake driver’s license and a spiral notebook with personal identifying information of multiple individuals, which was used to apply for unemployment insurance benefits. At least $222,930 in unemployment benefits were approved for the claims associated with the recovered EDD cards.
The statutory maximum sentence is 10 years in prison, supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.