A Kansas woman has been charged with unemployment fraud and using stolen identities in federal court in Wichita, according to officials from the United States Attorney’s Office in Kansas.
A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging Kylie Charles, 35, of Wichita, with fraudulently obtaining more than $100,000 by defrauding a government program designed to assist people who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to officials.
According to court filings, Charles faces 17 counts of wire fraud and 17 counts of aggravated identity theft.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provides financial assistance to Americans struggling with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to officials.
The program extended unemployment benefits to persons who would not normally qualify, including business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, those with a limited work history, and those who lost their businesses due to the pandemic.
According to investigators, Charles is suspected of taking the identities of people she knew and using their information without their knowledge or agreement to file false claims for unemployment benefits through the CARES Act program in numerous states between May 2020 and August 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Molly Gordon, an assistant US attorney, is prosecuting the case.
In other indictments released Wednesday by the United States Attorney’s Office in Kansas:
• Chad M. Abildgaard, 33, of Wichita, was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case.
• Nelson Agustin Gonzalez-Diaz, 74, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
• Manuel Jacquez Ibarra, 45, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
• David Yitzhak Espinoza, 31, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
