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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A Santa Clarita woman pleaded guilty today for her role in a scheme to use other people's personal information to obtain over $250,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from the California Employment Development Department.
Brittany Danielle Griesel, 38, pleaded guilty in federal court in Las Vegas to one count each of conspiracy to effect illegal transactions with access devices and aggravated identity theft. She faces a penalty of up to 9 1/2 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing on Nov. 9, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors said Griesel and her co-conspirators submitted fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with the EDD using other people's personal identifying information. In total, the EDD approved more than $250,000 in benefits for these fraudulent claims, which Griesel and her associates spent on goods and services.
During a traffic stop in Las Vegas on Aug. 8, 2020, law enforcement officials discovered Griesel was in possession of $45,464 in fraudulent proceeds obtained as part of the conspiracy, according to federal prosecutors.
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