California Pair Accused of Stealing $2.1 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funds
Lisa Puente, 43, of Rialto, and Arthur Marquez, 53, of San Bernardino, were arrested today on federal charges related to a scheme that defrauded California’s unemployment insurance system of more than $2.1 million. The duo is accused of submitting over 120 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims using stolen identities, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Between February 2020 and August 2023, Puente and Marquez allegedly filed false claims with the California Employment Development Department (EDD), utilizing the personal information of individuals who were either incarcerated or had their details used without consent. The claims included fabricated information such as fake addresses, inflated income, and claims that individuals were self-employed workers impacted by COVID-19.
As a result of these fraudulent applications, EDD authorized Bank of America to issue debit cards in the names of victims and straw claimants. Puente and Marquez are said to have used these cards to withdraw funds from ATMs, make purchases, and otherwise steal money.
Both Puente and Marquez face multiple charges, including six counts of mail fraud, one count of unauthorized access device use, and one count each of aggravated identity theft. They pleaded not guilty to all charges. After their initial court appearances, Puente was released on a $20,000 bond, while Marquez was granted a $10,000 bond.
It is important to note that an indictment only contains allegations of criminal conduct, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
