Destiny Harris, a woman from Delray Beach, Florida, has been arrested for committing COVID-19 unemployment fraud by accessing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) assistance she did not qualify for. Harris reportedly fraudulently received nearly $20,000 in unemployment benefits while she was employed during the pandemic.
On September 12, 2024, officers from the Delray Beach Police Department arrived at Harris’s home with a warrant for her arrest. In a video captured during the incident, she is seen in tears, expressing fear about going to jail.
Harris’s story gained attention through a true crime video by the YouTube channel Bandit Cam, detailing her alleged fraud during a time when many Americans were filing for unemployment benefits due to COVID-19-related job losses. Investigators revealed that four individuals from Delray Beach exploited the program, prompting an inquiry by the Department of Economic Opportunity.
Following leads from a financial investigator, local detectives initiated an investigation into the alleged fraud. Subpoenas were issued to phone providers, revealing that one individual was a victim of identity theft, while the other three had filed for benefits despite working full-time. This made them ineligible for the assistance they received.
When contacted, Harris claimed she had not filed for any benefits. However, her bank records indicated she had received $19,975 in PPP assistance despite being employed at the time. After failing to attend a scheduled interview with a detective in January 2023, she stopped responding to law enforcement calls, and a letter sent to her address was returned.
Eventually, law enforcement officers executed the warrant at her home, leading to her arrest. The incident and its aftermath were highlighted in the Bandit Cam video, which sparked diverse reactions from viewers on social media, with some advocating for forgiveness and others asserting that she deserved the consequences of her actions.