WORCESTER – A federal grand jury indicted a Leicester man in connection with his involvement in schemes to fraudulently obtain unemployment assistance and loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA].
The indictment of William Cordor, 26, comes after his arrest on Friday, March 5, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Charging documents allege that from June to October 2020, Cordor conspired with others to use stolen identities to file fraudulent claims for unemployment assistance in various states, including Nevada. Cordor attempted to wire the payments to a prepaid debit card.
The investigation began when police found Cordor in possession of 21 prepaid debit cards in 13 different names on August 18, 2020. Investigators found evidence related to the scheme on Cordor’s computer and cell home.
Prosecutors also allege that Cordor engaged with others in a second wire fraud scheme that involved using stolen identities to apply for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster loans from the SBA and deposit the loans into prepaid debit card accounts.
Charging documents allege that in May 2020, Cordor admitted to federal agents that he had fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Cordor agreed to surrender to federal authorities the balance of $79,000 in his bank account that were proceeds of his unemployment fraud scheme in Massachusetts. This occurred before prosecutors allege Cordor filed the fraudulent unemployment claim with Nevada in July 2020.
The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to another other sentenced imposed.
