Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul has charged a Cook County woman with allegedly receiving thousands of dollars from multiple fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment assistance claims and a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application for a non-existent business.
The Attorney General’s office charged Tina Tzoumas, 38, of Chicago, in Cook County Circuit Court. The charges include one count of theft of government property more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison; one count of identity theft more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison; one count of identity theft, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison; one count of financial institution fraud more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison; one count of loan fraud more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison; one count of state benefits fraud, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison; two counts of forgery, both Class 3 felonies punishable by up to five years in prison; one count of wire fraud, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison; one count of possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison; and one count of possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony punishable by up to three years in prison.
Sentences will ultimately be determined by the court. Tzoumas’ next court date is July 24.
“Unemployment assistance and Paycheck Protection Program Loans were a lifeline for many Illinois residents and small businesses," Raoul stated. "I am committed to holding accountable those who used the pandemic to steal from their communities and the state of Illinois.”
Raoul’s office alleges that between June 2020 and June 2021, Tzoumas submitted multiple COVID-19 unemployment assistance claims that were determined to be fraudulent. These claims allegedly used other individuals’ personal identifying information and resulted in thousands of dollars being obtained from Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) funds.
“The lengths to which individuals will go to take advantage of a crisis situation...is nothing short of contemptible,” said Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Ray Marchiori. “The integrity of the unemployment insurance program and the safeguarding of benefits is of the utmost importance. IDES is proud of the continued partnership with the Attorney General’s office.”
Tzoumas also allegedly used her own information to submit a fraudulent PPP loan application and received thousands for a business that did not exist.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Assistant Attorney General Samantha Cain will prosecute the case for Raoul’s Special Prosecutions Bureau.