In a turn that caps off a complex investigation into COVID-19 unemployment fraud, a Citrus Heights man has entered a guilty plea in a scheme that cost the California Employment Development Department (EDD) over a million dollars. Deshawn Oshaea Campbell, 36, admitted to charges of mail fraud and illegal firearm possession, following his and alleged co-conspirator Rochelle Pasley's exploitation of pandemic aid designed for those in dire need.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, between June and December of 2020, Campbell and Pasley filed numerous fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, using stolen identities to request Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits under the CARES Act. The duo reportedly controlled the mailing addresses used to receive more than 50 Bank of America debit cards loaded with EDD funds.
Officials state that Campbell and Pasley misrepresented claimants as recently unemployed or unable to find work due to the pandemic, despite many of the individuals not even being California residents. This malicious orchestration led to over $1 million in unwarranted payouts, which the defendants splurged via ATMs and direct purchases according to the U.S. Attorney's Office documents.
In addition to the fraud charges, Campbell faced charges as a felon in possession of a firearm – a separate acknowledgment of his prior criminal record. The U.S. Attorney's Office delineates a maximum potential sentence of 20 years for the mail fraud and a $250,000 fine, opposite a decade in prison plus a fine for the gun charge. However, the final sentence will be at the discretion of U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta after considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Meanwhile, Pasley awaits her day in court, set for June 26, where she faces similar retribution for her role in the conspiracy with additional time for aggravated identity theft. The case is part of a larger crackdown on pandemic relief fraud by the California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force—a joint effort by law enforcement and prosecutorial resources to track down and prosecute those who have exploited the crisis for personal gain.
