A Citrus Heights woman has entered a guilty plea to charges involving a scheme that fraudulently extracted over $1 million from unemployment insurance benefits, the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith reported. Rochelle Pasley, 34, admitted her role in a conspiracy centered on capitalizing on the CARES Act's Pandemic Unemployment Assistance provisions, which aimed to support those hit by the employment fallout of the pandemic.
Documents presented in court detailed how between June and December 2020, Pasley, alongside Deshawn Oshaea Campbell, 36, also from Citrus Heights, manipulated the system by submitting fraudulent claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) using stolen identities many of those identities didn't even belong to California residents, thereby rendering the claims invalid – all to claim they had lost jobs or couldn't find work due to COVID-19 related disruptions. EDD was deceived into approving more than 50 such claims resulting in Bank of America issuing EDD debit cards, which Pasley and her co-conspirator used for ATM withdrawals and direct purchases for personal gain.
The investigation into this fraudulent scheme involved detailed efforts by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the EDD – Investigation Division, revealing a deliberate attempt to exploit programs intended for those in need during challenging times. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Pasley is facing a lengthy prison sentence, with her sentencing scheduled for June 26, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta.
