A Prince George’s County man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for his role in a scheme involving unemployment insurance fraud, firearms violations, and drug trafficking. Ahmed Hussain, 23, received a 102-month sentence from District Judge Deborah L. Boardman, along with three years of supervised release and an order to pay $557,078 in restitution.
The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, together with officials from the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore Field Office, and the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to court documents, Hussain and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme from 2021 until at least September 2022 to defraud the United States, the State of Maryland, financial institutions, and individuals through fraudulent CARES Act unemployment insurance claims. The group submitted false claims to the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL), resulting in over $3.5 million in losses. Hussain personally participated in claims that led to losses exceeding $550,000 and used debit cards issued in the names of identity theft victims.
Two co-conspirators employed by a company providing support services to MD-DOL—Bryan Nushawn Ruffin and Kiara Smith—used their access to state databases to help facilitate the fraud. They allowed Hussain and others to alter claim information such as contact emails and payment methods on existing UI claims using computers issued by their employer. The conspirators also used personal identifying information from identity theft victims to further their activities.
Law enforcement discovered that during a search at Hussain’s residence on November 16, 2022, he possessed a stolen handgun connected to his drug-trafficking activities. Officers also found 60 pounds of marijuana and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. As someone previously convicted of an offense punishable by more than one year imprisonment, Hussain was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Co-defendants Ruffin, Smith, Zakria Hussain (“Oso”), and Lawrence Nathanial Harris (“Manman”/“Biggbank”) have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The case is part of efforts by the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force—a unit established by the U.S. Department of Justice focused on investigating large-scale pandemic relief fraud under programs like the CARES Act designed for economic assistance during COVID-19 (https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus). These strike forces bring together law enforcement agencies using data analysis teams led by prosecutors.
Anyone with information about attempted COVID-19 fraud can report it via the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or online at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended all agencies involved in this investigation as well as those prosecuting the case: Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Paul A. Riley, Joseph L. Wenner, Christopher Sarma; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanay Mitchell; Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber; and recognized support from MD-DOL and Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force.
Further details about reporting fraud or community outreach can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
