A man has been taken into custody after filing for unemployment benefits with other prisoners’ information while incarcerated.
Kenjarell Thomas, an inmate, pleaded guilty to one crime of identity theft, one act of fraud, and one count of wire fraud, State Auditor Shad White revealed on Wednesday.
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While serving time in prison, Thomas unlawfully claimed unemployment benefits using the personal information of many other prisoners and received payments at his mother’s residence.
“My office found that during COVID, Mississippi handed out over half a billion dollars in illegal unemployment compensation payments,” said Auditor White. “We will continue to find as many of these fraudsters as possible and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
The Hinds County Circuit Court sentenced Thomas to 15 years in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $37,470.53.
