OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERALPress Releases
No Amount Too Small, No Fraud Too Large — And Counting: DOL OIG Locks Up Fraudsters from Maryland to Michigan, Driving Real Results for Americans
June 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (OIG) punished fraudsters ranging from famous rappers to state employees for exploiting programs intended to support unemployed American workers. These cases reflect the OIG’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding taxpayer funds, protecting the integrity of federal unemployment insurance programs, and ensuring that individuals who abuse these critical systems are held fully accountable. Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, alongside Vice President J.D. Vance’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud are unwavering in their mission to root out the fraud, waste, and abuse that plagues our great nation.
DETROIT, MI. — Michigan rapper, Jaiswan Williams, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for leading a $63 million fraud scheme that involved stealing checks from the mail and selling them online. Williams had previously admitted to stealing $1.5 million in fraudulent pandemic unemployment insurance benefits, using the personally identifiable information belonging to dozens of individuals. “Jaiswan Williams exploited his platform as a rapper, using his celebrity status to rip off American taxpayers. These criminal acts will not be tolerated. We remain relentless in this war on fraud and will ensure every fraudster that attempts to undermine the American people receives their prison sentence. I want to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners that support this critical mission,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor.
GREENBELT, MD. — A former contractor for the Maryland Department of Labor, Kiara Smith, received 42 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Smith and her co‑conspirators stole more than $3.5 million in unemployment insurance benefits. She allowed her co‑conspirators to use her work laptop to alter and approve UI claims. Smith was ordered to pay $3.5 million in restitution and a criminal forfeiture of $275,000. “We have zero tolerance for insiders who abuse their access to cheat the American people,” said Inspector General D’Esposito. “If you use your position to commit fraud, we will turn your scheme into a prison sentence. This is exactly why we are working directly with Vice President Vance’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, hunting down every fraudster and pursuing every dollar.”
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. — An Illinois woman, Jackie L. Smith, was sentenced to more than three years in prison for her role in orchestrating a multi-state scheme that defrauded unemployment insurance programs of approximately $100,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was ordered to pay $95,708 in restitution to three states and faces three additional years of supervised release. “Make no mistake — gaming the system will land you in handcuffs. My office is committed to delivering real consequences to fraudsters and putting an end to the rampant theft and manipulation of the American taxpayer,” said Inspector General D’Esposito. “We will pursue every lead, expose every scheme, and ensure that those who steal from hardworking Americans face the full weight of the law. Justice is not optional.”
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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