SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 37-year-old Santa Ana man was sentenced May 22 to seven years in federal prison for fraudulently applying for $1.2 million in COVID-19 unemployment insurance.
Nhan Hoang Pham pleaded guilty Jan. 23 to a count of wire fraud for applying for about $1.2 million in unemployment benefits and raking in about $400,000, according to federal prosecutors.
Starting in July 2020 and through April 2021, Pham applied for about $1,255,350 in unemployment insurance, using stolen personal identities of residents in California, Texas, and Michigan, according to the plea deal. In all, there were 24 ID theft victims and Pham received $408,496, according to the plea deal.
Pham’s attorney, M. Bo Griffith of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, sought a 63-month sentence, according to court records….