Evelyn Blevins, a 48-year-old resident of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, was sentenced to 51 months in prison on August 7, 2024, by United States District Judge Curtis L. Collier in Chattanooga. Following her prison term, she will be on supervised release for five years.
Blevins pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft as part of a plea agreement. Her crimes involved defrauding COVID-19 unemployment programs in multiple states. She was ordered to pay $109,683 in restitution to the labor departments of Tennessee and California and to forfeit the same amount to the United States as part of a money judgment.
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Court documents reveal that from June 2020 to August 2021, Blevins conspired with others to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance funds from COVID relief programs in Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and California. She used personal information from various individuals to submit false online applications for unemployment benefits, claiming the individuals worked in those states. The states then sent debit cards with the funds to addresses in Tennessee, where Blevins received a portion of the payouts. She was directly responsible for nearly $110,000 in fraudulent claims, while the total scheme involved over $550,000.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III emphasized the commitment to prosecuting those who exploit federal relief programs. FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico also condemned Blevins’ actions, highlighting the FBI’s dedication to holding fraudsters accountable.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven Neff represented the government in the case. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the FBI, as part of the Smoky Mountains Financial Crimes Task Force.
The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established on May 17, 2021, aims to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force enhances coordination and resources across government agencies to uncover and prosecute fraudulent actors. More information on the Department of Justice’s pandemic response can be found here.
Anyone with information about COVID-19 fraud can report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or by filing a complaint here.
Source: Read Original Release
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