Two New York men are facing charges for their roles in a theft operation that pilfered more than $800,000 in unemployment insurance funds and COVID-19 relief benefits, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Thursday. The defendants, Kareem Reeves and Michael Robertson, are alleged to have carried out their scheme amid the pandemic, targeting vulnerable safety nets intended for those hardest hit by the crisis.
According to a press release from the Queens District Attorney's Office, the investigation started in 2022 after authorities flagged suspicious financial activities spanning from January 2020 to January 2022, Reeves and Robertson are now indicted on charges including grand larceny, identity theft, and criminal possession of stolen property with Robertson facing an additional grand larceny count for allegedly hacking and stealing over $1.2 million from private brokerage accounts.
Reeves, 36, reportedly submitted fraudulent unemployment claims in 42 different victims' names across multiple states, the indictment and investigation revealing he managed to steal roughly $655,706 and attempted to snatch another $59,590, "As alleged, these defendants took advantage of a lifeline for those impacted by the pandemic to pad their own pockets to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars – affecting more than 50 victims throughout the country," District Attorney Katz said in a press release.
Furthermore, Robertson, 35, is accused of submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance applications in the names of 12 victims to the New York State Department of Labor, allegedly stealing $180,201 in benefits and attempting to pocket an additional $109,350. The pair’s arrest followed a meticulous investigation involving the analysis of hundreds of financial documents and was the result of collaborative efforts among various government agencies, with special recognition given to the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Department of Labor, and the NYPD Financial Crime Task Force.
The charges carry significant potential penalties, with Reeves facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count, and Robertson facing up to 25 years for his separate indictment. Justice Toni Cimino is presiding over Reeves’ case, and Criminal Court Judge Glenda Hernandez is handling the arraignment. Court return dates have been set for November 10 and October 6, respectively.
Both men were arrested by the NYPD, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Assistant District Attorney Samuel A. Goodstein is leading the prosecution.
