Eight suspects in shocking identity theft scandal have been accused of stealing $2 million in COVID-19 relief funds in New York City.
Six of the eight defendants were charged in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday while two suspects, Armani Miller, 24, and Johan Santos, 19, remain at large.
According to court documents, the eight suspects are alleged to have specifically targeted individuals in New York's COVID-19 assistance program by stealing their personal information, and using that to gain access to the relief funds.
The suspects them funneled the stolen money to personal bank accounts and withdrew the cash in Brooklyn and Queens, Fox Business reported.
The suspects were caught after flaunting their ill-gotten gains and posting photos to social media showing them posing with the stolen cash, court documents show.
According to prosecutors, authorities were alerted to the criminal activity after the suspects carelessly used the same phone numbers and addresses to file multiple, false claims.
Law enforcement officers seized more than 100 Key Bank debit cards in other people's names that the suspects used to withdrawal large sums of money from Capital One ATMs in Brooklyn and Queens.
"There is never an excuse to knowingly commit fraud and steal from a system that was designed to help New Yorkers in a time of need," stated NYS DOL Commissioner Reardon. "However, it's even more despicable when these thieves steal a lifeline from New Yorkers in the midst of a public health pandemic."
"This Office will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law against defendants who would pocket public funds that are intended to alleviate the hardship of others," Acting United States Attorney Mark Lesko said.
Prosecutors are not yet clear on just how the suspects stole the victim's information, but the crime ring began in June 2020 and ended in April of this year.
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