Maryland man pleads guilty in $1 million unemployment fraud scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $1 million in unemployment benefits, authorities say. Mervyn Fombe Abiko, 35, of Prince George’s County, was involved in a conspiracy to impersonate victims and submit fraudulent unemployment insurance claims from February 2020 through February 2021, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Abiko […]

Florida man pleads guilty to defrauding Maryland, California of more than $2.3 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits

BALTIMORE, MD—A Florida man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a scheme to defraud Maryland and California of more than $2.3 million in unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. David Godin, 34, of Miami, used stolen identities, virtual private networks and proxy servers to file 140 fraudulent claims in multiple states, according to the […]

Parkville woman pleads guilty to over $3.6 million in Medicaid fraud

BALTIMORE, MD—A Parkville woman has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicaid program of millions of dollars. Attorney General Anthony G. Brown on Monday announced that Tasha S. Saunders, 44, pleaded guilty to two counts of defrauding the Maryland Medicaid program of more than $3.6 million by billing for mental health services for Medicaid recipients that were never provided. Between November […]

Baltimore man faces federal charges after flying drone over M&T Bank Stadium during NFL Wild Card game

BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore man is facing federal charges after he illegally flew a drone over M&T Bank Stadium last month. A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Alexis Perez Suarez, 43, of Baltimore, on federal felony charges related to flying a drone over M&T Bank Stadium during the Ravens’ National Football League Wild Card Game on January 11, 2025. […]

Rosedale, Belcamp men indicted for unemployment insurance fraud scheme of more than $1 million

BALTIMORE, MD—Two Maryland men have been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $1 million in unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Daiwor Woah-Tee, 51, of Belcamp, and Dekwii Woah-Tee, 46, of Rosedale, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, respectively. The indictment was unsealed when the defendants were arrested on December 18, 2024, and […]

U.S. Army research biologist from Maryland sentenced To 51 months in prison for engaging in APG bribery scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—A U.S. Army biologist from Maryland will be spending time behind bars for participating in a bribery scheme. Jason Edmonds, 45 of North East, was sentenced this week to 51 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to commit bribery at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. In addition, the Court ordered Edmonds to forfeit $111,794.83, […]

IT bid-rigging scheme uncovered by Justice Department

BALTIMORE, MD—The Department of Justice has indicted six individuals for their involvement in schemes to rig bids, defraud the government, and pay bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sale of IT products and services to federal government purchasers. These actions resulted in overcharges of millions of dollars to the U.S. government, impacting agencies like the Department of Defense (DoD). […]

Baltimore County man sentenced after pretending to be paralyzed to receive VA benefits

BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore County man who lied about needing a wheelchair for a service-related injury was sentenced to home confinement after prosecutors said he fraudulently obtained more than $750,000 in disability benefits. William Rich, 44, of Windsor Mill, was found guilty in June of wire fraud and theft of government property following a four-day trial. Rich, who served in the […]