West Bloomfield Resident Sentenced for Multi-State Unemployment Fraud Scheme

DETROIT - A West Bloomfield resident was sentenced today for his role in a multi-state unemployment insurance fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.

Joining in the announcement were Anthony P. D'Esposito, Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jason Palmer, Director, Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Arron Howard, 33, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after having pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud.

According to court records, Howard obtained over $626,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits for dozens of third-party claimants. Howard admitted that he kept a portion of those fraudulent benefits for himself. In executing his scheme, Howard submitted fraudulent unemployment insurance applications to the states of Arizona, California, and Michigan.

Howard was sentenced by Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. As part of his sentence, Howard was ordered to pay $626,960.88 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation andthe Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind.