LOS ANGELES – Five individuals, including a California Highway Patrol dispatcher, have been taken into federal custody for allegedly defrauding the government of more than $3.3 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits using stolen identities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced on March 6.
The five defendants – Janet Clarise Gloria Theus, 44; Diane Clarise Theus, 78; Dailen Spears, 24; Erica Abson Robins, 57; and Ronald Lee Robins, 62 – have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Janet and Diane Theus surrendered on Thursday and were scheduled for arraignment in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Erica and Ronald Robins, as well as Spears, were arrested earlier in the week and all three have pleaded not guilty. A trial is set for April 29.
According to the indictment, from April 2020 to July 2022, the defendants allegedly used stolen Social Security numbers to file 293 fraudulent unemployment claims. Among the claims, 169 were for minors, including 106 for children under 10 years old, and 17 claims were made for incarcerated individuals.
Prosecutors allege that Erica Robins, who had law enforcement access, misused her position to obtain inmate Social Security numbers for fraudulent claims, while Ronald Robins, who was incarcerated at the time, gathered similar information from fellow inmates.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that if convicted, the defendants could face up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud. Additionally, Janet, Diane, Erica, and Ronald Robins could each face up to 10 years in prison for unlawful use of unauthorized access devices.
A detention hearing for Ronald Robins is set for March 11. Erica Robins and Dailen Spears were released on $10,000 bond.
