Deshawn Oshaea Campbell, a 36-year-old man from Citrus Heights, has entered a guilty plea to charges of mail fraud and possession of a firearm by a felon. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith confirmed the plea.
Court documents reveal that Campbell, alongside Rochelle Pasley, aged 34, also from Citrus Heights, engaged in a conspiracy from June to December 2020. They filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with California's Employment Development Department (EDD) to obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits via the CARES Act. They accessed and used other people’s identities to submit these claims, some of which falsely indicated loss of employment due to COVID-19. Many of the individuals whose identities were compromised were not residents of California, making them ineligible for such benefits.
The claims included addresses controlled by either the defendants or their associates. EDD approved over 50 fraudulent claims and issued EDD debit cards via Bank of America containing the benefits. The defendants then used these debit cards at ATMs and for direct transactions, resulting in the misappropriation of over $1 million from EDD.
Campbell's plea also covers a firearm possession charge, stemming from his status as a felon.
The investigation into this case was led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the EDD – Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Delaney and Justin Lee are handling the prosecution.
Campbell's sentencing is set for August 7, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. He could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for mail fraud, and up to 10 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine for firearm possession. The ultimate sentence will be decided by the court, considering various statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Rochelle Pasley is to be sentenced by Judge Calabretta on June 26, 2025. The charges against her include conspiracy and mail fraud, carrying potential penalties of 20 years and a $250,000 fine per count. Additionally, there is a mandatory consecutive two-year prison term for aggravated identity theft. Her sentence will also be determined at the court’s discretion, following the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case forms part of the California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five such teams formed by the U.S. Department of Justice. These teams focus on significant pandemic relief fraud cases perpetrated by criminal gangs and transnational elements, utilizing both prosecutorial expertise and data analysis to address fraudulent activities related to pandemic relief funds.