WCDO Radio News

30 year old Joseph Osei of Canada was convicted in US District Court for 4 counts of mail fraud, 1 count of access device fraud, and 2 counts of aggravated identity theft for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits from New York State using stolen identities. Jurors deliberated for less than 2 hours before returning a guilty verdict on all counts, from August through November 2020, Osei fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from the State Department of Labor worth more than $100,000, he also defrauded agencies in California, Rhode Island, and Arizona using stolen identities. Sentencing is scheduled for September 23rd, the mail fraud convictions carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The access device fraud conviction carries a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 15 years.