NEWARK, NJ — Jefferson Robert, 31, of Newark, has admitted that he conspired to fraudulently obtain more than $700,000, acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced Oct. 5. Robert pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals to an information charging him with conspiring to commit wire fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Robert opened bank accounts with a fraudulent passport in another individual’s name. He and his conspirators then caused an application to be made to Washington State Employment Security Department for unemployment insurance benefits in the name of Victim 1. In response, ESD caused benefits to be deposited into one of the fraudulent bank accounts. Robert and his conspirators partook in business email scams, including causing a victim to transfer approximately $28,000 into one of the bank accounts; partook in romance scams, including causing a victim to make five deposits into one of the bank accounts totaling approximately $19,000; and fraudulently obtained money from the IRS by causing the IRS to transfer payments in four victims’ names into one of the bank accounts. Once the fraudulently obtained money was in the bank accounts, Roberts moved the money, including through the purchase of money orders.
The charge of conspiring to commit wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000, twice the gross profits to Robert or twice the gross loss suffered by the victims, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 15, 2022.
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