A Sacramento woman has received a prison sentence extending four years for her role in a fraudulent scheme exploiting the unemployment insurance benefit program amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tabitha Leigh Markle, 53, engaged in mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, ultimately obtaining over $2.5 million in ill-gotten gains, as detailed in a report by the United States Attorney’s Office.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez noted the significance of the decision, “Today’s sentencing highlights the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s continuing efforts to actively prosecute fraud against the unemployment insurance program that served as a lifeline for millions during the pandemic,” according to the Department of Justice. Markle's criminal endeavor involved the use of personal identifying information from various individuals, including state prisoners, to file fraudulent claims and pocket unemployment insurance funds intended to support those economically struck by the pandemic.
Throughout the course of the fraudulent activity between April 2020 and January 2021, Markle collected and exploited personal data, including names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers. A scam of this scale required collaboration, and Markle, together with her accomplices, had these UI debit cards sent to addresses they controlled for cash withdrawals across California, often caught on ATM surveillance.
According to the Department of Justice, Traces of Markle's actions further revealed the elaborate ruse of catering to the bureaucratic appetites of the California Employment Development Department (EDD) by fabricating employment records. One particular victim in Oakland became an unsuspecting cog in this machination, with Markle filing a false claim in their name, as reported by Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, "without the victim’s knowledge or permission."
This case emerged from the cooperative efforts of several entities, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, California EDD – Investigation Division, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv Sharma saw to the case's prosecution. This conviction stands as a testament to the ongoing enforcement efforts by California's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, targeting extensive fraudulent activities across the state.
