RIVERSIDE, California – A former California Employment Development Department (EDD) employee was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for causing nearly 200 fraudulent COVID-related unemployment relief claims to be filed in other people’s names, resulting in nearly $4.3 million in ill-gotten gains.

          Gabriela Llerenas, a.k.a. “Maria G. Sandoval,” 44, of Perris, was sentenced by United States District Judge John W. Holcomb, who also ordered her to pay $4,298,093 in restitution.

LAS VEGAS – An undocumented individual was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to use over 100 victims’ identities (without their consent) to unlawfully submit fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits claims, totaling at least $934,129.

          LOS ANGELES – A former deportation officer with the Department of Homeland Security was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for “structuring” charges for making cash withdrawals and deposits totaling nearly $200,000, which were designed to circumvent federal reporting requirements and to conceal assets from his then-wife and the state court during divorce proceedings.

          Vardan Keshishyan, 50, of Glendale, was sentenced by United States District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez.

BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that $884,755 recovered from forfeited assets of Scott J. Wolas will be distributed to his victims. The United States Attorney’s Office expressly sought permission to have the forfeited assets directly applied to victim restitution, which was granted by the Department of Justice.