Local woman charged with filing pandemic unemployment claim in inmate’s name

PITTSBURGH — A local woman is facing a federal charge, accused of collecting unemployment benefits in the name of a male inmate.

Asia Devaughn, according to federal court documents, “falsified material facts by trick and scheme” from about July 4 to July 27 of last year.

Documents allege she made certifications representing that she was the inmate, and that he was available to work but became “unemployed as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Her attorney, Mark Sindler, spoke with Channel 11 via Zoom on Monday. He said Devaughn has “already paid back every single dime that was allegedly taken by her, and she did it back in November or December.”

Sindler said the amount was in the “low teens.” He couldn’t confirm the relation to the individual she allegedly filed for.

According to prosecutors, Devaughn is among dozens suspected of this type of fraud.

Stephen Kaufman, Acting United States Attorney for Western Pennsylvania, said 43 people have so far been charged in our region, most of whom have either been inmates or their accomplices.

“In some cases, the prisoner and the outsider are in it together,” Kaufman said. In other cases, “the outsider filed on behalf of the prisoner without the prisoner’s knowledge.”

Kaufman declined to comment specifically on Devaughn’s pending case.

Speaking generally, he said the average fraudulent claim is about $10,000.

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He said state and federal authorities are working together to vigorously investigate this type of fraud, and he suspects more individuals will be charged in the months ahead.

“We’re trying to get the word out so we can hopefully establish some deterrence,” he said. “We want the fraud to stop. Crime prevention is always better than bringing prosecutions.”

If you suspect someone of unemployment fraud, call the COVID 19 Fraud Hotline: 1-888-C19-WDPA

Cox Media Group