BOSTON – A Leicester man was arrested on Friday, March 5, 2021 in connection with allegedly using a stolen identity to fraudulently claim unemployment benefits from the State of Nevada.
William Cordor, 26, was charged by criminal complaint one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester, Cordor was detained pending a detention hearing set for March 11, 2021.
According to the charging documents, Cordor was encountered by police on Aug. 18, 2020 in connection with a domestic violence incident. Police found Cordor in possession of approximately 21 prepaid debit cards in approximately 13 different names. Investigators then determined that on July 17, 2020, Cordor electronically filed a claim with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (NV DETR) for unemployment benefits using one of the identities that appeared on the prepaid debit cards, including the victim’s name and Social Security number. Cordor allegedly listed the prepaid debit card as the account to receive the unemployment benefits. Nevada authorities marked the claim as fraudulent and did not issue the unemployment benefits.
It is further alleged that Cordor’s residential address was listed to the prepaid debit card intended to receive the unemployment benefits. Agents also found documents with the victim’s name on Cordor’s laptop during a search at his residence.
Charging documents detailed that on May 21, 2020 Cordor admitted to federal agents that he had fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. That same day, Cordor agreed to surrender to federal authorities the balance of $79,600 in his bank account that were proceeds of his unemployment fraud scheme in Massachusetts. This occurred before Cordor is alleged to have filed the fraudulent unemployment claim with Nevada in July 2020.
The wire fraud charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Frederick J. Regan, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Leicester Police Chief Kenneth Antanavica; and Marlboro Police Chief David Giorgi made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.