Reston man pleads guilty in COVID-19 stimulus scheme
RESTON, Va. - A Reston man is accused of stealing mail from more than 150 people in Fairfax County – and then using it to make counterfeit COVID-19 stimulus checks and other fraudulent financial transactions.
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Jonathan Drew (Alexandria Sheriff's Office)
Jon Drew, 38, of Reston, pleaded guilty to the scheme Wednesday.
According to court documents, the mail – stolen between December 2019 and August 2020 – contained bank statements, credit cards, credit card statements, W-2 forms, and more than $700,000 in checks, including a COVID-19 stimulus payment.
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ReAuthorities said Drew used the stolen stimulus check to make counterfeit stimulus checks ranging in value from $1200 to $2400. He also used the info to lease an apartment, open bank accounts and more, according to the records.
READ MORE: FBI warns of scams during coronavirus pandemic
"We are firmly committed to holding accountable fraudsters who engage in identity theft and exploit a national economic crisis for personal gain at the expense of hardworking members of our communities," Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Raj Parekh said in a release.
Drew is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25. He faces a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison.