Natonia Johnson, a 52-year-old Baltimore resident, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud related to a bribery scheme involving the Maryland Department of Labor’s unemployment insurance program. The plea was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with officials from the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations.
Unemployment insurance is a joint state and federal program that provides temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in March 2020, several federal programs expanded eligibility and increased benefits under initiatives such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.
Applicants for unemployment benefits in Maryland must submit online applications providing personal information and self-certifying their employment status due to COVID-19-related reasons. The Maryland Department of Labor relies on this information to determine eligibility.
According to court documents, between June 2020 and November 2021, Johnson helped friends, family members, and others file fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits they were not entitled to receive. She accepted bribes ranging from $200 to $500 per claim in exchange for her assistance.
Initially, Johnson assisted individuals by uploading false documents supporting their claims and misrepresenting them as self-employed. Later, while working as a contractor at an MD-DOL call center through Company #1, she gained access to internal databases. She used this access to remove flags and holds on accounts indicating ineligibility for benefits, backdated claims, removed fraud holds, and caused additional payments to be issued improperly. The total amount defrauded exceeded $250,000.
Johnson faces up to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release; sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2026. Actual sentences are typically less than the maximum allowed by law; sentencing decisions are made by a federal district court judge after considering guidelines and statutory factors.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is part of a national effort led by the U.S. Department of Justice targeting large-scale pandemic relief fraud connected with programs like those established under the CARES Act. These strike forces use interagency teams focused on identifying criminal organizations responsible for pandemic-related financial crimes.
More information about reporting COVID-19-related fraud can be found at justice.gov/coronavirus or reported via the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through its web complaint form at justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes acknowledged the investigative work conducted by DOL-OIG and HSI as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Wenner’s prosecution efforts and support from other team members involved in the case.
Further details about resources offered by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office are available at justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
