Minnesota Woman Sentenced for Massive Covid Fraud Scheme
St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Minnesota woman convicted of wire fraud in connection with a COVID-19 fraud scheme received her punishment in federal court Tuesday.
Court documents allege the scheme occurred from June 2020 through January 2022. The scheme centered around fraudulent applications being sent to and approved by state agencies in Minnesota and California tasked with distributing unemployment benefits.
Federal prosecutors say 40-year-old Tequisha Solomon of Bloomington fraudulently applied for more than $7.1 million in pandemic-related assistance that caused the US government and multiple state agencies to pay out more than $4.7 million in benefits. Solomon entered into a plea agreement last December in which she admitted to a single count of wire fraud.
She was also accused of helping others submit fraudulent assistance applications in exchange for $2,000. Court documents say Salmon submitted over 200 false applications on behalf of other people.
Solomon was sentenced Tuesday to seven years and six months in federal prison. She has also been ordered to pay $4.7 million in restitution.
