A 31-year-old Kapolei woman, Phoebe Trinh, also known as Phuong Trinh Ngoc Vo, has been indicted on multiple counts of fraud and identity theft relating to unemployment and pandemic assistance programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice. On Thursday, a federal grand jury returned a twelve-count indictment against Trinh for her alleged involvement in fraudulently obtaining benefits using false claims.
According to the indictment, Trinh faces nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. The claims were made to the Hawaii Department of Industrial and Labor Relations (DLIR) under both the traditional unemployment insurance and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) programs. It is alleged that Trinh falsely certified she was unemployed to receive benefits and used another person's identity to claim additional PUA benefits, funneling those payments into her own bank account. The accumulated fraudulent amount is reported to be at least $36,265.
The penalties for these charges are severe and could lead to substantial prison time if Trinh is found guilty. Each of the wire fraud counts carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while each count of aggravated identity theft carries a two-year prison sentence. However, it's important to remember that an indictment is not an indication of guilt, and Trinh is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is investigating this case, with prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates. This case falls under the broader umbrella of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was established by the Attorney General on May 17, 2021, to combat pandemic-related fraud. As part measures to prevent fraud, the Task Force aims to augment coordination mechanisms and share insights from past enforcement efforts.
Individuals with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activities that could suggest attempts to exploit the systems put in place to assist those affected by the pandemic.
