BALTIMORE, MD – A Miami woman has been indicted on 16 federal charges for her alleged role in a pandemic-related unemployment insurance fraud scheme that targeted state agencies, including the Maryland Department of Labor, prosecutors announced.
Tamika Nicole Jones, 33, faces eight counts of wire fraud, seven counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of mail fraud. She was arrested in South Florida by special agents with the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General after the indictment was unsealed.
According to court filings, between May 2020 and June 2021, Jones allegedly used stolen personal information—including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers—to impersonate victims and file fraudulent unemployment claims. Prosecutors say she exploited expanded federal programs created during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.
Once approved, fraudulent claims were paid out on debit cards that could be used to withdraw cash or make purchases. The indictment alleges Jones obtained benefits intended for workers who lost jobs through no fault of their own.
If convicted, Jones faces up to 20 years in prison on the wire and mail fraud charges. Each count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison term that must run consecutively to other sentences. A federal judge will ultimately determine her sentence under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The case is part of the Department of Justice’s COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, which targets large-scale pandemic relief fraud. The initiative focuses on criminal schemes involving relief funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland and DOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared M. Beim is prosecuting the case.
Key Points
- Tamika Nicole Jones, 33, of Miami, indicted on 16 federal counts tied to unemployment fraud.
- Prosecutors allege she used stolen identities to file fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment claims.
- Faces up to 20 years in prison for fraud and mandatory consecutive sentences for identity theft.
The indictment highlights ongoing federal efforts to prosecute fraud tied to pandemic relief programs.