An additional five individuals involved in a federal pandemic fraud scheme have been sentenced in the U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia. This case is part of a broader effort to address fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits.
Christopher Kirk Webb from Raven, Virginia, received a 20-month prison sentence. Russell Eric Stiltner from Abingdon was sentenced to 24 months. Jessica Dawn Lester of North Tazewell and Cara Camille Bailey of Davenport were each sentenced to 19 months. Justin Warren Meadows from Oakland was given an 18-month sentence. All were ordered to pay restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission for their fraudulent claims.
Previously, six others had been sentenced for their involvement in this scheme. Jonathan Webb, who recruited others including jail inmates to file false claims, was sentenced to 48 months and ordered to pay $150,218 in restitution.
Other sentences included Terrence Brooks Vilacha with 18 months and $14,894 restitution; Joseph Hass with 27 months and $19,316 restitution; Brian Addair with 24 months and $22,284 restitution; Stephanie Amber Barton and Hayleigh McKenzie Wolfe each received sentences of one year plus one day.
Court documents revealed that between March 2020 and September 2021, Josef Brown along with Jonathan Webb and Crystal Shaw orchestrated a plan using personal information from inmates at SWVRJA-Haysi as well as friends’ details to file fraudulent benefit claims via the Virginia Employment Commission website. In total, the group obtained $341,205 fraudulently.
The investigation was led by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery under the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force which includes over twenty Inspectors General focused on detecting misuse within COVID-19 relief efforts totaling more than $5 trillion.
Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee made the announcement alongside Stanley M. Meador of FBI’s Richmond Division and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.
Several agencies supported this investigation: Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office; Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority; FBI; U.S Department of Labor; Virginia Employment Commission.
Special Assistant U.S Attorney M Suzanne Kerney-Quillen alongside Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Stone are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.