Illinois man convicted of sending fake unemployment benefits to DeKalb residence

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — An Illinois man was sentenced Wednesday to 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud and identity theft.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Robert Carter, 29, of Homewood,

filed for COVID-19 unemployment benefits in Maryland, mailed debit cards to residences in Illinois, and collected funds through ATMs in Illinois.

Prosecutors said Carter and others planned to file bogus claims between June and August 2020, resulting in more than $506,000 in payments “to claimants who he knew were ineligible for benefits and who did not work or live in Maryland”.

“Robert Carter engaged in a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $1 million in unemployment insurance benefits by applying for benefits in the name of victims of identity theft,” Chicago Department of Labor Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Region Irene Lindau said. “Carter stole benefits provided by the federal government to help American workers struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to the US Attorney’s Office and the US Postal Inspection Service for their strong partnership and cooperation in these types of investigations.”