Waterford Today

Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) expressed dismay at the news that a Detroit woman has been charged as a key figure in a multimillion-dollar unemployment insurance fraud scheme intended to bilk the state of Michigan and the U.S. government out of funds allocated for unemployment assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While tens of thousands of our Michigan neighbors were waiting months for their claims to be processed, the ongoing disaster at the unemployment office in Michigan was committing fraud upon the state and involving federal funds," Maddock said on a Facebook post from July.  "My office receives so many impassioned people who call in, unable to feed their families, pay their rent, and to think that this is happening is unbelievable."

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Brandi Hawkins was a contract employee for the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Beginning in April 2020, she is alleged to have used her insider access to authorize payment on hundreds of fraudulent claims in the amount of $2 million in government funds intended for unemployment assistance during the pandemic.

Rep. Matt Maddock | Michigan House Republicans

When federal agents went to her home to execute a search warrant, they found over $200,000 in cash. Hawkins is alleged to have used her ill-gotten gains to purchase high-end handbags and other luxury goods.

"Brandi Hawkins is charged with exploiting the current pandemic to defraud the state of Michigan and United States for her own personal gain. These are serious allegations, and my office is committed to prosecuting any person who attempts to use the COVID-19 crisis to defraud the people of Michigan,” stated U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider.

“The U.S. Secret Service is currently focused on criminals attempting to exploit the American people during these unprecedented times of record unemployment due to the pandemic. It is especially egregious when someone in a position of trust, working for an agency created to assist the residents of the state of Michigan, takes advantage of those during their time of need. We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to bring these perpetrators to justice,” said Douglas Zloto, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Detroit Field Office.