Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty in Pandemic Fraud Conspiracy

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anthony Camou, age 46, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pled guilty yesterday to mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Lucy Lang, New York State Inspector General (NYS-OIG), made the announcement.

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits were designed to assist hardworking Americans struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday’s guilty plea should serve as a warning that we will hold accountable those who misrepresent their eligibility for federal funding.”

USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward stated: “Yesterday, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its law enforcement partners sent a powerful message to those who commit fraud through the U.S. mail.   Postal Inspectors will vigorously investigate and bring to justice those seeking to use the mail to facilitate the misappropriation of public funds in times of prosperity and, more importantly, in times of adversity.”

New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang said: “Theft of unemployment benefits during the pandemic deprived New Yorkers of critical support in a time of need. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who seek to exploit vital government programs for personal gain, especially in times of crisis.”

Camou admitted that from July 2020 through September 2021, Camou, and his co-conspirator, Jodi Drygula, fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor in the names of multiple people. Camou and Drygula defrauded the NYSDOL out of more than $250,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. As part of his plea agreement, Camou agreed to pay at least $56,994 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor and forfeit $38,641.

Camou faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2025, in Albany. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Drygula previously pled guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and will be sentenced on July 15, 2025.

The case is being investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and NYS-OIG, with assistance from the New York State Department of Labor. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.