Albany, NY — Daion Morris, a 32-year-old resident of Troy, New York, was arraigned today on charges of wire fraud and identity theft in connection with a pandemic-related scheme.
The indictment alleges that in September 2020, Morris used a stolen identity to file an unemployment insurance claim. He is accused of continuing to recertify the claim through March 2021, ultimately receiving over $29,000 in unemployment benefits under the victim’s name.
Morris was arrested and arraigned in Albany, where he was released pending trial. If convicted of the charges, Morris faces a potential sentence ranging from 2 to 22 years in prison. Additionally, he could be fined up to $250,000 and face up to 3 years of supervised release after serving his sentence.
These charges are part of a larger effort by the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was established in May 2021 to combat fraud related to pandemic relief. The task force works with various government agencies to investigate, prosecute, and prevent fraudulent activity during the pandemic.
