Two sisters from Georgia have pleaded guilty to their roles in a scheme that federal prosecutors say helped push nearly $2 million in pandemic unemployment benefits to claims that had been flagged for suspected fraud.
On Aug. 31, Joirean Creel, 35, of Duluth, and Adriane Creel, 24, of Stone Mountain, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Federal prosecutors said the sisters worked remotely as teleservices representatives through a subcontractor for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the agency responsible for administering Ohio’s unemployment insurance program, including federally funded pandemic benefits during COVID-19…