Belen Man Sentenced for Unemployment Fraud Scheme

ALBUQUERQUE - A Belen man was sentenced to 41 months in prison for submitting 21 fraudulent unemployment insurance applications using stolen identities during the pandemic.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, between June 18, 2020, to October 15, 2021, Joseph Anthony Martinez, 44, submitted 21 fraudulent unemployment insurance claim applications through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions using his own name, variations of his name, and the stolen identities of others. In addition to the 21 fraudulent applications, Martinez also modified and pursued a legitimate application that had been filed by another person, without that person's knowledge. To this end, Martinez provided false employment information and opened bank accounts in other individuals' names without authorization to receive the fraudulent payments. As a result of his fraudulent activities, Martinez received more than $177,000.

Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of theft of government property. Upon his release from prison, Martinez will be subject to five years of supervised release.He was also ordered to pay $177,956 in restitution, complete community service, and pay $300 in special penalty assessments.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Albuquerque Field Office. Deputy U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement DivisionLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.