LOS ANGELES, CA — A 60-year-old man from California has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges for his role in a massive $59 million scheme involving fraudulent unemployment compensation benefits. Bruce Jin, of Los Angeles, admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering as part of the scheme, which was first uncovered in 2023.
Jin was indicted in August 2023 alongside two other individuals, Brian R. Cleland, 71, and Carlos A. Grijalva, 59, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trio is accused of defrauding the system by posing as businesses selling COVID-19 protective equipment while illegally collecting unemployment benefits.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Jin fraudulently obtained over $12 million in unemployment benefits through companies he controlled, such as Ample International and Jin Commerce. The defendants also used ACH processing to illegally acquire more than $45 million in funds from identity theft victims.
The stolen funds were funneled through companies controlled by Cleland and Grijalva, including MexUS Service and Group Mex USA. The defendants transferred more than $30 million to Jin’s businesses, while millions more were sent to associates involved in the operation.
In a further attempt to conceal the funds, Jin allegedly wired over $35 million to a bank account in China and sent another $2 million to an individual named in the indictment.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $59 million in fraudulent funds, three bank accounts, and a Honolulu property purchased with proceeds from the scam.
Jin has remained in custody since his arrest, while Cleland and Grijalva remain free pending trial, which is set for May 2025.
