Mocobizscene- A woman from Brooklyn who admitted to committing fraud about multiple relief schemes during the pandemic has been given a sentence of three years probation and ordered to pay $650,000 in penalties.
Prosecutors allege that Chanette Lewis, 32, utilized her position at a call center within a New York program designed to offer healthcare workers access to isolation rooms in hotels to carry out fraudulent activities. According to them, Lewis provided complimentary hotel rooms to individuals, including herself, who were not eligible healthcare workers or COVID-19 patients.
“In light of the pandemic, this defendant took advantage of a COVID-19 safe-lodging program for her own financial gain. Today, she will face the repercussions of her illegal actions. New York Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber expressed gratitude to New York City Emergency Management for bringing this matter to their attention,” stated Commissioner Strauber.
During the pandemic, there have been numerous instances where individuals are suspected of embezzling around $280 billion in government aid, including in New York. The recent sentencing is a part of a broader case that involves $400,000 in fraudulent activities related to the hotel program.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Lewis has confessed to defrauding the emergency programs. Additionally, she has been found guilty of forging legal documents to secure housing for 30 individuals. These documents falsely claimed to be from judges, prosecutors, and doctors. The aim was to secure public housing or larger apartments within the public housing system for these individuals.
According to the Department of Investigation Statement, she and three co-defendants allegedly used stolen personal information from actual health care workers to book hotel rooms which were then advertised on Facebook for rental purposes. The co-defendants involved in the case have confessed to obtaining unemployment benefits from multiple states and fraudulent small business loans.
The lawyer involved in a plea deal in the case was contacted by The Associated Press via phone and email. It is uncertain if this lawyer is currently representing Lewis. Requests for updated contact information to prosecutors and investigators were not immediately answered.
Lewis received a sentence of three years of probation. Additionally, she was required to forfeit a sum of $290,000 and pay an additional $360,000 in penalties. It is worth noting that her co-defendants either received lesser sentences or are still awaiting sentencing.
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