Woman Admits $145K Coronavirus Stimulus Scam with Death Row Son

There are many stimulus check scams where hackers try to rob people’s personal data by using stimulus checks as bait. Recently, a novel coronavirus stimulus check scam emerged in which a woman conspired with her son to earn more than $145,000 in stimulus check claims. The Modesto woman faces about 20 years in prison for conspiring with her son to file a fake stimulus check. Dunlap’s son is on Death Row at the San Quentin State Prison.

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New Coronavirus Stimulus Check Scam: What Is It?

Last week, Sheila Denise Dunlap, 51, pleaded guilty in a San Francisco federal courtroom to conspiring to commit wire fraud and identity theft in filing more than $145,000 in stimulus check claims. In May last year, Dunlap was indicted for involvement in wire fraud conspiracy to file a fraudulent application to claim an EIP (Economic Impact Payment).

In the courtroom, Dunlap admitted that he and his son obtained the personal information of more than 9,000 people to claim their stimulus checks in 2020. In his defense, Dunlap admitted that his son sent him the personal information of his fellow prisoners. Also, his son, identified only by the initials DW, submitted details of others he believes may qualify for stimulus checks as non-reporters.

Dunlap told the court he used all of this information to file a fraud claim through the IRS EIP Portal. In addition, Dunlap provided his own bank account details in every fraudulent application he submitted to get a stimulus check in his own account.

Dunlap also admitted that his son told him to first file a fraud claim using the youngest adult’s information. This is because young adults, most of whom are college-aged individuals, are not included in the income bracket to trigger a tax return, and thus, tend to fall into the non-reporter category for stimulus checks.

How Mother And Daughter Commit Deception?

In his defense, Dunlap admitted to using personal information (names and Social Security numbers) of inmates and others to file 121 stimulus check claims. He further revealed that he conspired between March 2020 and July 2020 with his son to obtain the personal information of potential suitors, as well as to file a claim. At the time, his son was serving a death sentence at the San Quentin State Prison.

Dunlap noted that around April 2020, his son coordinated with others to send him emails containing the personal details of 9,043 people. Prosecutors allege that Dunlap and his son communicated using phone calls and text messages.

He has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of gross identity theft. The former carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the maximum sentence in the latter case is two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Dunlap, who is still out of custody, is now scheduled to appear before United States District Judge Susan Illston on June 24, 2022.