NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk man was sentenced Wednesday to five years and ten months in prison for using other people’s identities to steal COVID-19 pandemic relief funds.
According to a release from U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, Dwaynald Darion Gibbs filed dozens of claims at the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VEC was responsible for administering unemployment insurance to workers impacted by the pandemic in Virginia.
Gibbs was approved for approximately $658,966 in unemployment insurance benefits.
The fraudulent claims were identified after a review discovered multiple applications had similarities, such as the name “Legends” or “Legends Barbershop” as the former employer, mailing addresses associated with Gibbs and the same telephone number. Many of the claims were additionally submitted from the same internet protocol address.
Gibbs pled guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft on December 5, 2024.