Kansas Man Pleads Guilty in Unemployment Fraud Case

WICHITA, KAN. – A Fort Scott man pleaded guilty one count of Wire Fraud and one count of Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud. 

In June 2020, Donald Cook, 65, took part in a scheme to defraud the state governments of Arizona, Texas, and Ohio. Cook admitted he knew that an individual, identified in court documents only as “A.T.”, was falsely using other people’s identities to apply for state unemployment benefits. Cook allowed “A.T.” to deposit the fraudulently obtained funds totaling approximately $25,500 in his bank account. Cook then transferred money to “A.T.”

Cook faces up to 20 years in prison for Wire Fraud and up to 20 years in prison for Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting the case.

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