Joseph Osei, a 30-year-old Canadian citizen formerly residing in Albany, was sentenced to 54 months in prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities. The sentencing took place on Tuesday and follows his conviction at trial earlier this year.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Osei obtained more than $200,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor between August and November 2020. He also attempted similar schemes targeting state workforce agencies in California, Rhode Island, and Arizona by using stolen identities to apply for pandemic unemployment benefits. In May, jurors found Osei guilty on all counts after less than two hours of deliberation. The charges included four counts of mail fraud, one count of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino imposed a three-year term of supervised release following Osei’s prison sentence. Osei was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $211,360 to the states of New York and Arizona and forfeit a money judgment.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III commented: “Joseph Osei’s brazen exploitation of critical relief programs during a national crisis was an affront to every individual who genuinely relied on these resources to survive. By stealing the identities of other people, Osei not only violated the law but also undermined the very purpose of programs designed to help those in need. His actions were callous and calculated, and justice was served when he was found guilty on all counts and then sentenced yesterday to 54 months in prison. I thank each law enforcement agency involved in this task force for their hard work in prosecuting this case.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward stated: “The relief programs that Osei stole from were created as lifelines during the COVID pandemic and Osei took funds away from those in need and victimized unsuspecting people by stealing their personal identifying information. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will relentlessly pursue those who misuse the mail for fraud and bring them to justice.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “HSI Albany is proud to have played a role in ensuring Joseph Osei faced the consequences of his fraud and identity theft. The prosecution of Osei will serve as a deterrent to anyone else who thinks about trying to steal from New Yorkers and government programs.”
Jonathan R. Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, USDOL-OIG stated: “Joseph Osei used stolen identities to fraudulently obtain critical taxpayer funds intended for American workers in need of unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Safeguarding the integrity of the unemployment insurance program remains a top priority for the Office of Inspector General. We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to ensure the protection of U.S. Department of Labor programs and operations.”
The investigation was led by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and HSI with support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office as well as assistance from the New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping and Joshua R. Rosenthal prosecuted the case.
