DETROIT - A man from Novi was sentenced for orchestrating an unemployment insurance fraud scheme aimed at defrauding the State of Michigan and the U.S. Government of funds earmarked for unemployment assistance during the COVID19 pandemic, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Joining in the announcement were Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Juila Dale, Director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Terrell Dwayne Mason, 40, was sentenced to 57 months in prison. In sentencing the defendant, United States District Judge Denise Page Hood also ordered Mason to pay restitution to the state of Michigan in the amount of $423,435.

According to court records, between April of 2020 and continuing into February of 2021, Mason filed fraudulent unemployment claims using the identities of federal and state inmates, knowing that the inmates were not eligible to receive such benefits. Mason obtained the inmates’ personal identifying information (PII) from websites on the dark web or from the inmates themselves based on false representations that he would help them improve their credit ratings. Mason pleaded to both wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

“Unemployment insurance is designed to help those in need,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This case is another example of my office’s commitment to ensuring that people...

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