Vienna woman sentenced to 12 years for massive COVID-19 fraud and firearm charge
A Vienna woman was sentenced to 12 years in prison for her role in a fraud scheme targeting the Georgia Department of Labor and a separate charge for illegal possession of a machine gun, according to a news release from the United States Department of Justice.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A Vienna woman was sentenced to 12 years in prison for her role in a fraud scheme targeting the Georgia Department of Labor and a separate charge for illegal possession of a machine gun, according to a news release from the United States Department of Justice.
32-year-old Tyshion Nautese Hicks was sentenced for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, resulting in 108 months of prison time, and an additional 36 months for the machine gun charge, to be served consecutively. The scheme, which spanned from March 2020 to November 2022, defrauded the Georgia Department of Labor out of more than $30 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
According to court documents, Hicks and her co-conspirators filed more than 5,000 false unemployment claims using stolen identities, fabricating employer accounts and exploiting a program aimed at helping individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The defendant and her co-conspirators exploited a program designed to alleviate pandemic-related economic hardship to enrich themselves at the expense of federal taxpayers,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri said, calling it “one of the largest COVID fraud schemes ever prosecuted.”
Court records show Hicks and others obtained personal information from various sources, including a healthcare employee, to file fraudulent claims. Hicks was also involved in redirecting mail to capture prepaid debit cards loaded with fraud proceeds.
The firearms charge was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. During a search of Hicks’ home on November 30, 2022, authorities found multiple firearms, including a modified Glock handgun modified to be capable of fully automatic fire.
