Federal indictment accuses Watervliet woman of pandemic fraud
WATERVLIET, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- A federal indictment accused a Watervliet woman of committing wire fraud on Monday. The indictment for Elizabeth Lashley, 42, alleged that she received pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits from several states.
Court officials said Lashley allegedly secured $65,000 from May to July 2020 from California, Arizona, and Massachusetts workforce agencies by submitting paperwork under Elizabeth Bonilla. The indictment charges are merely accusations, and Lashley is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Federal wire fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and three years of probation. The case is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.