TAMPA, Fla. — A Wesley Chapel woman was found guilty of stealing almost $2 million in unemployment benefits, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday.
DOJ said 58-year-old Maria Morales created over 100 debit cards using other people's information to receive insurance benefits provided during the pandemic.
Morales then took the cards to different ATMs in Florida and withdrew thousands of dollars using the identities of over 100 people across the United States.
Officials said this took place in less than one year.
Morales’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 19, and she faces a maximum of ten years in federal prison.
It's been one year since Hurricane Milton impacted our community. Tampa Bay 28 revisited some of Tampa Bay's hardest hit areas to show the recovery and the work that still needs to be done.
