Belen Man Pleads Guilty to $50,000 Unemployment Fraud Scheme

ALBUQUERQUE – A Belen man pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges after submitting 21 fraudulent unemployment insurance applications using stolen identities during the pandemic.

According to court documents, between June 18, 2020, to October 15, 2021, Joseph Anthony Martinez, 44, submitted 21 fraudulent unemployment insurance claim applications through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions using his own name, variations of his name, and the stolen identities of others. To that end, Martinez provided false employment information and opened bank accounts in other individuals' names without authorization to receive the fraudulent payments totaling more than $50,000.

Martinez pleaded guilty to two counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of government property. At sentencing, Martinez faces up to 20 years in prison.  Upon his release from prison, Martinez will be subject to one year of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General investigated this case with assistance from NM Workforce Solutions and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office.  Deputy U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.