Darmani Hawkins, a 21-year-old from Aurora, Ohio, has been sentenced to five years in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent. Hawkins pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and mail theft. These charges are related to schemes involving fraudulent acquisition of COVID-era unemployment benefits and theft of checks from the mail.
Court documents reveal that between 2020 and 2021, Hawkins conspired to submit false claims for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits under the CARES Act. This act was designed to assist those who lost jobs due to COVID-related shutdowns. Hawkins and his associates submitted applications that falsely claimed eligibility for these benefits. Once approved by state agencies, the benefits were sent via debit cards which were then used for personal gain.
In a separate scheme in 2023, Hawkins recruited postal workers through social media platforms to steal checks from the U.S. Postal Service in exchange for payment. He also paid individuals with established bank accounts to deposit these stolen checks, allowing him access to withdraw or receive funds.
U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko stated: “Mr. Hawkins shamelessly exploited federal resources intended to help those who became unemployed as a result of an uncontrollable, life-changing world event." She added that his actions diverted essential funds away from those genuinely in need during the pandemic.
Lesley Allison of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Pittsburgh Division commented on the sentencing: “The sentencing of Mr. Hawkins should send a strong message to anyone who believes they can deceive government programs designed to help the American public in times of need."
Investigations revealed that Hawkins's activities resulted in losses amounting to approximately $425,000 from the COVID fraud scheme and over $700,000 from the stolen check scheme.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and FBI Cleveland Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erica Barnhill.
For reporting fraud related issues visit: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/unemployment-insurance-payment-accuracy/UIFraudReporting or https://www.uspis.gov/report.