Texas Man Pleads Guilty in New Mexico COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Case

Texas Man Admits to New Mexico Unemployment Fraud Scheme

Marc Long, a 46-year-old man from Texas, has pleaded guilty in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to federal charges related to fraudulent unemployment insurance claims funded by COVID-19 relief programs.

Court documents state that Long devised and carried out a scheme to defraud the United States and financial institutions by submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. The claims were funded by federal COVID-19 relief programs.

Use of Stolen Identities and Ineligible Claims

According to the documents, Long used several names and the personally identifiable information of multiple individuals while living in Texas to file false unemployment insurance applications and weekly certifications with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.

The Department of Justice reported that neither Long nor the individuals whose identities he used were eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Despite this, the fraudulent claims resulted in the disbursement of federal unemployment relief funds.

Amount Stolen and Methods of Distribution

In total, Long stole more than $160,000 in federal unemployment relief funds issued through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. He distributed the funds through interstate wire transfers, mailed debit cards, and direct deposits into accounts that were accessible to him.

The activity involved financial transactions across state lines, with the fraudulent claims tied to New Mexico’s unemployment system while Long resided in Texas.

Guilty Plea and Potential Sentence

Long pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and two counts of theft of government property. These convictions stem directly from his role in filing false unemployment insurance claims and obtaining federal relief funds through fraudulent means.

At sentencing, Long faces a maximum potential penalty of up to 30 years of imprisonment. Following any term of imprisonment, he also faces a three-year term of supervised release as part of the federal sentence exposure associated with the charges.