BATON ROUGE, LA –
Since the public health emergency was declared, Louisiana has experienced
massive unemployment with hundreds of businesses forced into closure and their
employees out of work. Unfortunately, fraudsters seized upon the situation; and
the Unemployment Trust Fund was an easy target.
Many press reports have highlighted the more than $400 million
in Louisiana unemployment benefits being disbursed to individuals who did not
qualify to receive them, the $6.2 million in benefits that went to prisoners in
our State, and the $1.08 million in benefits paid to dead people.
In October, Attorney General Jeff Landry announced arrests his office made related to COVID-10 unemployment fraud. Today, he is
announcing several more arrests of people accused of stealing over $1 million
of government benefits.
“With the unemployment system being as overwhelmed and
insecure as it has been, it is no surprise that bad actors are coming out of
the woodworks to take advantage of it,” said Attorney General Landry. “So my
office will continue investigating false claims and doing what we legally can
to bring criminals to justice.”
Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) agents learned
multiple groups of individuals operating across several parishes in Louisiana
had conspired to defraud both the Louisiana and California COVID-19
unemployment insurance programs. It is alleged that members of these groups
filed multiple fraudulent online claims with the California Employment
Development Department (EDD) and the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC). In
total: LBI asserts that over 100 false claims were filed with California EDD,
resulting in over $1 million in stolen unemployment funds; and that several of
the accused simultaneously submitted fraudulent claims to the LWC, resulting in
more than $60,000 being stolen.
- Dynasty
Rowe (26 of
Maringouin) has been charged with Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds,
Criminal Conspiracy, and Government Benefits Fraud.
- Kendell
Fowler (42 of
Baton Rouge) has been charged with Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds
and Criminal Conspiracy.
- Miquel
Banks (28 of
Plaquemine) has been charged with Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds,
Criminal Conspiracy, and Money Laundering.
- Lasia
Brock (20 of
Thibodaux) has been charged with Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds
and Government Benefits Fraud.
- Ashley
Johnson (32 of
Prairieville) has been charged with Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds,
Criminal Conspiracy, Money Laundering, and Government Benefits Fraud.
- Darrolyn
Bell (29 of
Plaquemine) has been charged with Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds,
Criminal Conspiracy, and Government Benefits Fraud.
The arrests were made
with assistance from the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, East Baton Rouge
Parish Sheriff’s Office, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, West Baton Rouge
Parish Sheriff’s Office, Addis Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor
(DOL), and LWC.
“Crime has no geographical boundaries and because of our
partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, neither do we,” said Sheriff
Brett Stassi. “These partnerships are a crucial part in curbing crime and
corruption in our communities.”
There are currently two other outstanding warrants
related to this matter for Adrienne Johnson (37 of Prairieville) and Joseph
Mitchell (24 of Baton Rouge). Anyone with information on their whereabouts
is encouraged to contact LBI at 800-256-4506 or the local law enforcement
agency.
Additionally, LBI received requests for assistance
regarding other allegations that eventually resulted in two more arrests.
- Cole
Morden (24 of
Denham Springs) has been charged with Government Benefits Fraud. He is
accused of knowingly causing the submittal of weekly certifications to the
LWC and allegedly collecting over $800 in unemployment funds while
incarcerated at the Livingston Parish Sherriff's Office Correctional
Facility.
- Dana
Ganaway (51 of
Morgan City) has been charged with Government Benefits Fraud. During an
interview with LBI agents, she confessed to submitting false unemployment
insurance claims and concealing her employment income for purposes to
receive pandemic unemployment benefits. Ganaway allegedly received $8,000
in fraudulent unemployment benefits.
The arrests were made with
assistance from the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary Parish
Sheriff’s Office, DOL, and LWC.
“I want to thank all of our law enforcement and agency
partners who helped in our efforts,” concluded Attorney General Landry. “I
encourage anyone who knows of fraudulent activity related to COVID-19
unemployment benefits to report it.”
Please note the investigations are ongoing and all
suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Those who know someone
fraudulently receiving funds from the Unemployment Trust Fund or who believe
they have been victimized may report it to the National Center for Disaster
Fraud at 866-720-5721 or the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation at www.agjefflandry.com/unemployment/fraud/complaint.