Evergreen Reporter

Sean Walker, a 34-year-old resident of High Springs, Florida, has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for wire fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. This announcement was made by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“Our office will continue to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money, including holding those accountable who conspired to falsely obtain government funds during the COVID‑19 pandemic,” stated Acting United States Attorney Spaven.

Court documents revealed that Walker fraudulently obtained over $20,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from California. These funds were partially supported by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and were meant for Americans affected by the economic impact of the pandemic. Walker's application contained false statements as he had never lived or worked in California and was not eligible for these benefits.

In addition to his prison term, Walker must pay $21,690 in restitution to California’s Employment Development Department. His sentence includes three years of supervised release following imprisonment.

Walker is among nine defendants convicted due to a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and David P. Byron.

“While many were facing hardship and uncertainty, these defendants sought to exploit government programs intended to help those in need,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI’s Tampa Field Office. “Their actions were driven by greed and a blatant disregard for the law.”

Kristin Rehler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division added: “The sentencing of Sean Walker conveys the important message that you cannot steal money from Americans without consequence.”

The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force coordinates efforts across various agencies to combat pandemic-related fraud. It aims to investigate domestic and international criminal actors while assisting agencies with preventing fraudulent activities through shared resources and information.

Individuals with information on attempted COVID-19 relief fund fraud can report it via the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or Web Complaint Form.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one among 94 offices nationwide serving under the Attorney General's direction. For public court documents or more information about this office, visit their website at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.