U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby has sentenced Michael Cooley, Jr., from Prince George’s County, Maryland, to 87 months in federal prison. Cooley, also known as “Micheal Cooley Jr.”, “5Micmusik,” and “Michael White,” pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in January 2025. His crimes relate to a plan devised to defraud the Maryland Department of Labor and the California Employment Development Department.
The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with other officials. Between June 2020 and March 2021, Cooley conspired with Isiah Lewis and Alonzo Brown to commit fraud involving unemployment insurance benefits. The scheme targeted individuals and state workforce agencies, resulting in over $800,000 in fraudulent claims, with more than $300,000 successfully obtained.
Judge Griggsby identified Cooley as having played a managerial role in the scheme. Cooley is required to pay $310,428.08 in restitution and forfeit assets related to the fraud.
This case falls under the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force's efforts. The U.S. Department of Justice established five such strike forces nationwide to address COVID-19 pandemic-related fraud. These units focus on large-scale fraud involving the misuse of pandemic relief funds.
U.S. Attorney Hayes acknowledged the efforts of the investigation teams from the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. She also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Bijon A. Mostoufi and Joanna B.N. Huber for their work on the case.
The public can access more information about COVID-19 fraud and reporting mechanisms through the Department of Justice's website or by contacting the National Center for Disaster Fraud.