Author: Quixem Ramirez
A Garland man has been sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in a fraudulent unemployment insurance scheme that yielded over $2 million, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
Frank Sherman, 60, was indicted in November 2022 and pleaded guilty in October 2023 to charges of theft of government funds. He will also be responsible for nearly $2.3 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Sherman participated in the scheme between July 2020 and September 2021. He collaborated with unknown accomplices he met on social media to obtain unemployment benefits intended for individuals in Canada.
The DOJ reported that Sherman shipped at least 200 Nevada unemployment insurance debit cards from his home in Garland to these accomplices. Over the 14-month period, he loaded the cards with more than $2 million in unemployment funds.
While most of the debit cards were sent to Canada, Sherman kept one for personal use, accessing the funds on at least one occasion. Additionally, he admitted to illegally obtaining $3,000 from the California Employment Development Department, despite having never worked in California.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts to combat unemployment fraud, particularly during the pandemic, when many individuals sought assistance through government programs.