Imagine how many people out there have pulled a similar scam but haven't been caught yet?
A group of young Brooklyn men ripped off $2 million in COVID-19 relief funds by submitting fraudulent unemployment claims — and then stupidly posted pictures of themselves with their ill-gotten cash, prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Six of the eight defendants — ranging in age from 18 to 25 — were charged in Brooklyn federal court, documents show.
Two of the suspects — Armani Miller, 24, and Johan Santos, 19 — are still at large.
Four of the alleged thieves foolishly flaunted their fortunes on social media, posting pictures of themselves with large piles of cash, according to the court documents.
The men stole personal information from people in the assistance program to obtain the unemployment benefits, prosecutors said.
Most of the benefits were funded by COVID-19 pandemic assistance programs, according to the feds.
The men allegedly funneled money meant for others in the program into their personal bank accounts, then withdrew the cash at branches in Brooklyn and Queens.