Dunkirk man pleads guilty to theft of government funds involving COVID-19 fraud

BUFFALO, N.Y. -U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jesus Ramos aka Manny, 42, of Dunkirk, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to theft of government funds, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, co-defendant Lamont Brown recruited others to apply for unemployment assistance compensation through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for which they were not entitled. In July 2020, Ramos provided his identification information and social security number to Lamont Brown, knowing that it would be used to obtain money that he was not entitled to. After he provided his personal information to Brown, Ramos received a check totaling $11,454 from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, which he deposited into a checking account at a Lake Shore Savings Bank, owned by Lamont Brown. These funds were later withdrawn and spent. Ramos did not reside in, nor had he resided or worked in Puerto Rico and was therefore legally ineligible to receive the PUA funds from the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources. The total loss amount to the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources due to the actions of Ramos and others involved in the scheme was $67,524.

Brown was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone, Northeast Region.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 24, 2026, before Judge Sinatra.

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