CEO of Southern California Nonprofit Admits Stealing $1.5M in COVID-19 Benefits

By Free Republic | Created at 2024-11-26 23:47:09 | Updated at 2024-11-29 04:29:03 2 days ago

CEO of Southern California Nonprofit Admits Stealing $1.5M in COVID-19 Benefits
KTLA ^ | Nov 25, 2024 | Lily Dallow

Posted on 11/26/2024 3:29:39 PM PST by nickcarraway

A Southern California-based nonprofit CEO pleaded guilty Monday to fraudulently applying for millions of dollars in COVID-19 jobless benefits, using stolen identities to steal nearly $1.5 million, officials say.

According to the Department of Justice, Reginald Foster Jr., 38, of Westchester, Los Angeles, admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bank fraud and one count of unauthorized use of access devices.

The indictment alleges Foster took advantage of the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, part of the CARES Act passed in 2020 to help people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Between June and October of 2020, the DOJ says Foster conspired with others to file fraudulent unemployment claims using the personal information of individuals who did not authorize the applications.

In total, Foster and his co-conspirators allegedly submitted 118 fraudulent applications to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), using stolen identities to ensure the approval of the claims.

Foster then received debit cards issued by EDD and transferred funds from those cards to his nonprofit, Champs Up! LLC, which was reportedly created to provide lifestyle and personal development coaching to middle school students in Los Angeles and Long Beach.

According to officials, Foster also withdrew large sums of money from the cards, including multiple $1,000 ATM withdrawals.

The group ultimately withdrew nearly $1.5 million from the fraudulent claims, according to the DOJ.

The scheme was purportedly uncovered when EDD and Bank of America froze the remaining benefits, preventing additional losses of more than $4 million.

The DOJ says Foster now faces up to 30 years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge and up to 10 years for the unauthorized use of access devices when he is sentenced on March 24, 2025. He remains free on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

Two co-defendants, Shelece Counts, 31, of Los Angeles, and Isaiah Herbert Lawrence, 31, of Houston, Texas, have pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with the scheme. A trial is scheduled for January 2025.

TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: covid19; crime; nonprofit

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1 posted on 11/26/2024 3:29:39 PM PST by nickcarraway

To: nickcarraway

Billions of $ stolen and they pinch this oddlot for $1.5 million.
Hey DoJ GFYs.

2 posted on 11/26/2024 3:32:44 PM PST by HYPOCRACY (Democracy is dead. Long live the Republic!)

To: nickcarraway

That’s what COVID-19 Benefits were for , they were stolen from the taxpayers to start

3 posted on 11/26/2024 3:34:37 PM PST by butlerweave

To: HYPOCRACY

Whatever happened to the $1 billion that Gavin Newsom gave to China for PPE, and never got anything for?

4 posted on 11/26/2024 3:36:09 PM PST by nickcarraway

To: nickcarraway

Kamala spent it on Beyonce and others. Also stealing elections is expensive.

5 posted on 11/26/2024 3:37:30 PM PST by HYPOCRACY (Democracy is dead. Long live the Republic!)

To: HYPOCRACY

They probably spent $10 million getting this petty crook.

6 posted on 11/26/2024 3:38:18 PM PST by HYPOCRACY (Democracy is dead. Long live the Republic!)

To: nickcarraway

TRILLIONS were stolen during “Covid”. It was the greatest theft of all time disguised as a public health emergency.

7 posted on 11/26/2024 3:40:10 PM PST by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)

To: nickcarraway

To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

The class lecture was titled:

“How to ripoff stupid whitey.”

Lol.

9 posted on 11/26/2024 3:45:15 PM PST by cgbg (It is time to pull the Deep State out of the mass media--like ticks from a dog.)

To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

Thanks. I figured this was a minority type of ripoff deal. Once I saw what his NGO was all about.

10 posted on 11/26/2024 3:46:56 PM PST by dennisw

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