Two Detroit residents, Brandon Lamar Robinson, 41, and Michelle Hill, 48, have been charged with wire fraud for orchestrating separate schemes that defrauded the U.S. Department of Education of over $12 million through fraudulent student aid applications. Both pleaded not guilty at their federal arraignments and remain free on bond.
Investigators allege that Robinson and Hill acted as ringleaders, recruiting “straw” students who provided personal information to enroll primarily at Wayne County Community College. The students did not attend classes but had their coursework completed or attendance logged by the conspirators to maintain eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell grants.
Once approved, federal aid was sent to schools to cover tuition, with leftover funds disbursed to students via debit cards, checks, or direct deposit. The ringleaders controlled these funds by intercepting payments through addresses and bank accounts under their control. Surveillance footage showed individuals withdrawing cash with masks concealing their identities.
Robinson’s scheme ran from January 2015 to February 2024 and also involved defrauding over $1 million in Unemployment Insurance benefits. Investigators found evidence at his home, including hundreds of debit cards and thousands of index cards listing personal student information.
Hill operated a similar scam from July 2015 to July 2025, resulting in over $3.2 million in awarded student aid, with $2.5 million disbursed. The case against Hill began after Wayne County Community College officials reported an unusual spike in aid applications from Detroit students with diplomas from an online Florida high school.
The federal investigation highlights the ongoing threat of identity theft and fraud within federal student aid programs, emphasizing the importance of vigilance by educational institutions and government agencies.
