A Las Vegas man, Emelio Vladimir Rochester, 28, was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for his role in defrauding California’s unemployment system and committing identity theft, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada announced on Friday. United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva also ordered Rochester to serve an additional three years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
According to court documents, Rochester, along with co-defendant Joseph Holmes Jr., conspired between August 15 and September 18, 2020, to fraudulently obtain and use 17 California Employment Development Department (EDD) debit cards that had been issued in the names of victims of identity theft. The two men stole personal identifying information and used it to file false unemployment insurance claims.
Once the fraudulent claims were approved, Rochester and Holmes used the EDD-issued debit cards to withdraw cash from ATMs located in Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, and Garden Grove, California, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported. The fraudulent claims resulted in at least $385,000 in approved unemployment benefits, with over $192,000 being withdrawn by the defendants.
The fraud was uncovered on September 18, 2020, when officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Rochester, with Holmes as a passenger. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 17 EDD debit cards issued in various names, along with $89,710 in cash, five cell phones, three laptops, and a tablet.
Rochester pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess counterfeit and unauthorized access devices and one count of aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, he was also ordered to pay $192,234 in restitution to the victims.
Co-defendant Joseph Holmes Jr. also pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to four and a half years in federal prison.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those involved in defrauding the unemployment system, especially during times when these programs are critical for those affected by economic hardships. The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to urge the public to report any suspicions of fraud or criminal activity related to unemployment insurance programs.
