Adrian Fluellen, a man from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to over four years in prison for his involvement in a multi-state, million-dollar unemployment insurance fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fluellen had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in February 2024. The charges were related to a scheme where he and his co-defendant, Tracey Dotson, used stolen personal identification, including Social Security numbers, to file hundreds of false unemployment claims electronically in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maryland between April and December 2020.
According to court records, Fluellen and Dotson created email accounts to link with the false unemployment claims, submitted and re-certified fraudulent claims, collected mail and prepaid debit cards loaded with benefits, and shared information about their activities via text message and phone calls. The government alleged that the defendants fraudulently received approximately $1 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds, of which over $930,000 was used for cash withdrawals and purchases that included jewelry, drugs, a vehicle, and a firearm. U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison stated that diverting taxpayer funds to criminals during the pandemic took away resources from those genuinely in need.
The charges against Fluellen were brought in the Eastern District of Michigan, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carl D. Gilmer-Hill and Jessica A. Nathan prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted jointly by IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) emphasized that the Pandemic Unemployment assistance was intended for those affected most by the global pandemic, not for individuals like Fluellen who aimed to defraud the government and harm innocent victims by stealing their identities.
Before sentencing, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Leitman indicated that he was contemplating a sentence above the Sentencing Guidelines range of 51-63 months due to the unique circumstances of the offense being committed during a pandemic. Fluellen’s defense attorney argued for leniency, highlighting his client’s young age, difficult upbringing, and the positive impact he had on his younger brother’s life. Ultimately, Fluellen was sentenced to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay over $900,000 in restitution. His brother, Officer Laron S. Woody, who credited Fluellen with being a father figure and encouraging him to pursue a career in law enforcement, provided a letter of support.
COVID-related fraud investigations have been on the rise, with IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) reporting that since 2020, they have looked into 1,644 cases potentially totaling $8.9 billion, with a significant portion stemming from cases opened in the last year. These cases involve crimes related to various programs created to address economic damages caused by the pandemic, such as individual payments, extended unemployment assistance, and small business relief initiatives. The agency is committed to holding accountable those who exploit these programs for personal gain, like Fluellen and Dotson, and ensuring that funds meant for those in need are not diverted to criminals.
