A Lee County woman will spend just over two years in prison for COVID-19 relief fraud
Misty Burgess, 49, of Plantersville, was found to have submitted a fraudulent unemployment benefits application to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security in the name of a relative who was incarcerated in a state prison back in May 2020.
According to court documents, Burgess received more than $15,000 in unemployment benefits that she was not entitled to as a result of her fraudulent claims. The defendant, who was originally charged with theft of government property and wire fraud, pled guilty to theft of government property earlier this year.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Burgess to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered her to pay restitution of $15,604 to the state.
The unemployment benefits fraudulently received by Burgess were a part of those benefits issued under the CARES Act from the State of Mississippi and the federal government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today’s sentence is an important step in ensuring that individuals who make fraudulent claims to government funds that they are not entitled to will be held accountable for their actions,” U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner said.
Investigator Chris Watkins from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Feleica Wilson prosecuted the case.
