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Tyreese Lewis, 20, Kymaury Goldsby, 21, and Dorien Ervin, 21, used stolen and solicited information to apply for benefits-- receiving more than $140,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funding.
The men also applied using their own names, despite the fact that they were not out of work due to the pandemic.
"These defendants took advantage of a program meant to help Pennsylvania families put food on the table. We're committed to shutting down scammers and protecting public funds wherever they’re found," Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement.
Lewis supposedly coached people into completing 19 applications using others' personal information.
The victims and fellow fraudsters were recruited and solicited over Facebook and Instagram through accounts setup by Lewis.
Lewis also applied for multiple business loans through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program-- falsely stating that he had businesses that were suffering due to COVID-19.
Between May 2020 and March 2021, Lewis fraudulently obtained and assisted others in obtaining $147,250 in PUA benefits.
Lewis, Goldsby and Ervin have been charged with the following:
- Theft by unlawful taking
- Criminal conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking
- Theft by deception
- Criminal conspiracy to commit theft by deception
- Access device fraud
Lewis has additionally been charged with:
- Corrupt organization
- Identity theft
- Tampering with public records
- Criminal use of a communication facility
The Attorney General's office has charged 35 people with fraudulently submitting PUA applications amounting in more than $3.2 million in illegally obtained funds.
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