Tabitha Leigh Markle, a 53-year-old resident of Sacramento, has pleaded guilty to charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. The charges are related to her involvement in a scheme to defraud the unemployment insurance benefit program during the COVID-19 pandemic, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that between April 2020 and January 2021, Markle orchestrated a fraudulent operation targeting the California Employment Development Department (EDD) and the United States. She collected personal information such as names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers to submit false applications for unemployment insurance benefits. The resulting UI debit cards were mailed to addresses specified in these applications. Surveillance photos captured Markle and her associates withdrawing significant amounts of cash from ATMs across California using these cards. The fraud amounted to approximately $2,599,038.
Markle also exploited the identity of various victims, including an Oakland resident identified as N.T., without their consent. She filed false unemployment claims using N.T.'s personal details but altered contact information like email addresses and phone numbers. Her associates subsequently withdrew thousands from the card issued under N.T.'s name.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies: the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, California EDD – Investigation Division, and the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina McCall is handling prosecution duties.
Sentencing is set for May 13, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. For mail fraud alone, Markle faces up to 20 years in prison with a $250,000 fine or twice the amount lost due to her actions; supervised release could last up to five years. Additionally, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence with a possible fine reaching $250,000. However, final sentencing will be influenced by statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case forms part of an initiative by a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force team—one among five established nationwide by the U.S. Department of Justice—to tackle pandemic-related fraud involving large-scale operations led by criminal organizations or transnational actors.