Daion Morris, a 32-year-old resident of Troy, New York, has been charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Lucy Lang, New York State Inspector General (NYSIG).
According to the indictment, Morris allegedly used a stolen identity to file an unemployment insurance claim in September 2020. He is accused of recertifying this claim through March 2021 and receiving over $29,000 in benefits under the victim's name. It is important to note that these charges are accusations at this stage, and Morris is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
If convicted on all counts, Morris could face a prison sentence ranging from two to 22 years. Additionally, he may be fined up to $250,000 and receive a supervised release term of up to three years. Sentencing will be determined by a judge based on specific statutes violated and other factors outlined in the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Morris was arraigned in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and has been released pending trial before Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn.
The investigation into this case involved several agencies including HSI, NYSIG, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the New York State Department of Labor's Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case.
In response to pandemic-related frauds like this one, the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established on May 17, 2021. This task force aims to coordinate efforts across government agencies to combat such frauds effectively by enhancing investigative resources and sharing insights from previous enforcement actions.
Individuals with information about attempted COVID-19 related fraud can report it via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or through their online complaint form.