OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERALPress Releases
No Amount Too Small, No Fraud Too Large — And Counting: OIG Busts Inmate ID Scammers and Family Fraud Cover-ups — Protecting American Workers
June 11, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Every week, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (OIG), works relentlessly to protect American workers and deliver justice. Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito is committed to safeguarding vital labor programs and ensuring that hardworking Americans receive the benefits they are entitled to. In partnership with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, the OIG is waging a war on fraud, waste, and abuse. Through aggressive, coordinated action the OIG works to ensure these threats can no longer undermine the integrity of federal programs or harm the American people.
LOS ANGELES, CA. — A California man, Prentiss Ray Westbrook, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, with 24 months of probation, and ordered to pay restitution for his role in an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme. Westbrook collected and used the personal identities of prison inmates and identity thef t victims to fraudulently obtain more than $235,000 in taxpayer-funded, COVID-19 pandemic-related, unemployment benefits. “Prentiss Ray Westbrook and his co-conspirators siphoned taxpayer dollars from a system designed to help Americans in crisis. Their scheme—built on stolen identities, inmate data, and the exploitation of a national emergency—undermined the integrity of the unemployment insurance program. Today’s sentence demonstrates our unwavering commitment, together with the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, to pursuing those who abuse federal benefit programs,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “Let this stand as a clear warning: If you defraud the unemployment insurance system, whether from the street or from inside a prison cell, we will uncover it and hold you accountable.”
BOSTON, MA. — Tuyet T. Martin from New Hampshire was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $40,000 fine for attempting to obstruct and interfere in a grand jury investigation involving her brother, former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran. In January, Tran was sentenced for fraudulently collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and willfully omitting consulting and rental income from tax returns. As part of the broader investigation into Tran’s unemployment benefits and tax fraud schemes, Martin provided a false employment offer letter from her New Hampshire-based business, where she served as the owner and CEO. Martin provided false testimony regarding the employment offer letter. “Tuyet T. Martin chose to obstruct justice and provide false testimony to shield her brother, former Massachusetts State Senator, from his unemployment and tax fraud. That kind of corruption will not be tolerated. Regardless of your status, connections, or elected office, if you defraud the American people, we are coming for you,” said Inspector General D’Esposito.
RICHMOND, VA. — A Virginia man, Dashawn Hunter, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for an unemployment insurance benefit fraud conspiracy. Hunter orchestrated the scheme while on state supervision for other crimes. He used the personal identifying information of prison inmates and others to file fraudulent claims for UI benefits. Hunter frequently submitted multiple applications for a single individual to multiple different state workforce agencies and filed weekly recertifications of unemployment status for these fraudulent claims to continue receiving UI benefits. In total, he received $221,118 to which he was not entitled. “Cases like this remind us why aggressive enforcement is essential — every dollar stolen represents the betrayal of hardworking Americans. My office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to root out this fraud and hold perpetrators accountable,” said Inspector General D’Esposito.
No amount too small, no fraud too large — and counting.
For additional information on DOL OIG, please visit oig.dol.gov. If you suspect wrongdoing involving DOL programs or operations, contact the DOL-OIG Hotline at (800) 347-3756 or oig.dol.gov/hotlinecontact.htm.
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