Federal Grand Jury Indicts Urbana Woman for Pandemic Era Unemployment Benefit Fraud

URBANA, Ill. - A federal grand jury indicted an Urbana woman, Titianna Ammons, of the 1100 block of North Busey Avenue, on three counts of wire fraud for allegedly defrauding the U.S. Department of Labor and Illinois Department of Employment Security from October of 2020 to October of 2021.

The indictment alleges that Ammons applied for and received unemployment insurance benefits from around October 24, 2020, until around September 10, 2021. Beginning in January of 2021, Ammons's unemployment insurance benefits included approximately $300 extra per week in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits that were authorized and paid in connection with the presidentially declared major disaster and emergency proclamation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment alleges that, during the time Ammons was receiving unemployment insurance benefits, she worked for and received money from various entities, including as an elected District 11 representative on the Champaign County Board. Nonetheless, Ammons falsely certified to the Illinois Department of Employment Security that she did not work and did not receive any wages while receiving benefits. As a result, she received unemployment insurance benefits to which she was not entitled, according to the indictment.

Ammons was served with a summons to appear in federal court in Urbana for arraignment on June 11, 2026. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for each of the alleged crimes charged are a maximum of thirty years of imprisonment, a maximum five-year term of supervised release, a maximum $1 million fine, and restitution.

Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene Miller is representing the government in the prosecution.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.