A San Bernardino County couple were arrested on a nine-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they fraudulently obtained more than $2.1 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, according to the United States Department of Justice.
Lisa Puente, 43, of Rialto, and Arthur Marquez, 53, of San Bernardino allegedly received the fund by submitting more than 120 fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities, including those of California state prisoners, justice officials stated.
Puente and Marquez were arraigned on Nov. 5, in United States District Court in Riverside.
The charges
The defendants are charged with six counts of mail fraud and one count of use of unauthorized access devices. Puente and Marquez also each are charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, Justice officials stated.
Puente and Marquez pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, and a Dec. 30 trial date has been scheduled.
A federal magistrate judge ordered Puente released on a $20,000 bond and Marquez released on a $10,000 bond.