Darmani Hawkins, a 21-year-old from Aurora, Ohio, was sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in wire and mail fraud, bank fraud, and mail theft schemes. These crimes, which exploited COVID-era unemployment benefits and stolen checks, led to significant losses for both individuals and the government.
In addition to his prison sentence, Hawkins was ordered to pay restitution of $681,114.14 and will serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Hawkins conspired with others to defraud multiple states by submitting false unemployment benefit claims. These claims, approved through fraudulent means, resulted in debit cards loaded with benefits being sent to Hawkins and his co-conspirators. The stolen funds were then used for personal gain.
Hawkins also orchestrated a scheme that involved recruiting postal workers to steal checks from the U.S. Postal Service. These stolen checks were deposited into accounts he controlled, and Hawkins withdrew the funds. Authorities determined that Hawkins’ fraudulent activities caused a total loss of approximately $1.1 million, with $425,000 related to the unemployment fraud scheme and more than $700,000 linked to the stolen check operation.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Rebecca Lutzko, condemned Hawkins’ actions, stating that he exploited federal resources meant to help individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “His deceitful actions were selfish and heartless,” she said.
This case highlights the misuse of federal relief programs and the severe consequences for those who engage in fraud during a time of national crisis.