Social media influencer jailed 5 years in U.S. for multimillion-dollar fraud
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Social Media Influencer Sentenced to 5 Years in Jail for $1.5 Million COVID-19 Reduction Fraud Scheme
BOSTON – A Miami lady was sentenced at this time in federal courtroom in Boston for fraudulently acquiring over $1 million in pandemic-related loans utilizing the stolen identities of greater than 10 people after which utilizing these funds for private bills, together with chartering a personal jet and renting a luxurious house.
Danielle Miller, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Courtroom Chief Choose F. Dennis Saylor IV to 5 years in jail and three years of supervised launch. Miller was additionally ordered to pay restitution in an quantity that can be decided at a later date. In March 2023, Miller pleaded responsible to 3 counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated id theft.
“Ms. Miller isn't an influencer, she is a convicted felon. She stole the identities of harmless folks to steal over $1.2 million in pandemic-relief loans that ought to have gone to folks in want. In a quest for fleeting social media stardom, Ms. Miller relied on fraud to fund a lavish life-style of personal jets, luxurious residences and different accoutrements of wealth. At this time's sentencing ought to make it crystal clear that curating a high-society social media presence on the backs of hardworking taxpayers is a path to jail, not fleeting fame,” mentioned Appearing United States Legal professional Joshua S. Levy.
“Danielle Miller stole crucial monetary assist from the palms of people that wanted it throughout some of the turbulent financial durations in current historical past. Whereas different People fearful about find out how to maintain meals on the desk, Miller spent her ill-gotten features on lodges and luxurious items, heartlessly flaunting this fraudulent life-style on social media. At this time's sentence is the results of a collaborative crew of investigators dedicated to uncovering fraud and guaranteeing taxpayer {dollars} are going the place they need to and never into the palms of scammers like Miller,” mentioned Michael J. Krol, Particular Agent in Cost of Homeland Safety Investigations in New England.
“Danielle Miller engaged in a scheme focused on the Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Help, in addition to 5 different state workforce businesses, to fraudulently receive pandemic-related unemployment advantages within the names of id theft victims. Miller additionally utilized stolen identities to fraudulently apply for Financial Damage Catastrophe Loans. Miller's schemes sought to safe greater than $1 million in stolen advantages put aside by the federal authorities to help People combating the financial results of the COVID-19 pandemic. We'll proceed to work with our legislation enforcement companions to safeguard these crucial profit packages for individuals who want it,” mentioned Jonathan Mellone, Particular Agent-in-Cost, Northeast Area, U.S. Division of Labor, Workplace of Inspector Normal.
From in or round July 2020 by means of Could 2021, Miller devised and executed a scheme to fraudulently receive pandemic-related aid loans funded by the federal authorities – together with Financial Damage Catastrophe Mortgage funds by means of the U.S. Small Enterprise Administration (SBA) in addition to Pandemic Unemployment Help and associated unemployment advantages. To execute the scheme, Miller used the private figuring out info of greater than 10 people and used pretend enterprise names to use for and obtain greater than $1 million in authorities advantages.
Moreover, Miller possessed counterfeit driver's licenses within the victims' names however bearing Miller's {photograph}. In August 2020, Miller used a counterfeit driver's license within the identify of a Massachusetts sufferer to rearrange a Gulfstream non-public jet constitution flight from Florida to California, the place she stayed at a luxurious resort underneath the identical sufferer's identify. In a separate occasion, Miller used the id of one other sufferer to hire a luxurious house in Florida.
Miller maintained an lively social media presence by way of her Instagram account, which had greater than 34,000 followers. There, Miller posted her extravagant use of the fraud proceeds and stolen identities, publicizing her buying of luxurious items and renting of luxurious lodging. Posts to this account included a put up displaying Miller at luxurious lodges in California the place transactions had been made utilizing the checking account in one of many sufferer's names.
Appearing U.S. Legal professional Levy; HSI SAC Krol; DOL-OIG SAC Mellone; Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Particular Agent in Cost of the Small Enterprise Administration Workplace of Inspector Normal (SBA-OIG), Jap Area; and Abington (Mass.) Police Chief David DelPapa made the announcement at this time. Invaluable help was offered by Homeland Safety Investigations in Miami and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William F. Abely, Chief of the Felony Division and Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities Monetary & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
The investigation was carried out by Homeland Safety's Investigation's Doc and Profit Fraud Job Drive (DBFTF), a specialised subject investigative group comprised of personnel from varied native, state and federal businesses with experience in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and people concerned in varied sorts of doc, id and profit fraud schemes.
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