DETROIT – A Detroit resident pleaded guilty on Jan. 7 in connection with an extensive unemployment insurance fraud and identity theft scheme.
Nicholas Overton, 32, pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
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Court records showed Overton submitted or caused the submission of about 90 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims across 20 states and territories, primarily Michigan, California, New York, and Arizona.
Overton received over $500,000 in fraudulent unemployment assistance payments.
The claims were filed using the personal identifying information of multiple individuals who were unaware their identities had been compromised and had not authorized Overton to file claims on their behalf.
Overton is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7.
The 32-year-old faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years on the aggravated identity theft count.