Three Orlando Residents Charged with Theft of Unemployment Benefits
Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of three separate indictments charging Roseland Redding (46), Nicole Cannon (26), and Miguel Pabon (43), all of Orlando, with unlawfully obtaining money designed to provide unemployment benefits to persons out-of-work.
Specifically, Redding is charged with two counts of theft of public money and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison for each theft count and two years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft charge, which is mandatory to be served consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The indictment also notifies Redding that the United States intends to forfeit $27,275, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of her offenses.
Cannon is charged with three counts of theft of public money. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison for each count. The indictment also notifies Cannon that the United States intends to forfeit $10,635, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of her offenses.
Pabon is charged with one count of theft of public money. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Pabon that the United States intends to forfeit $1,650, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of his offenses.
According to their respective indictments, Redding, Cannon and Pabon stole funds intended for legitimate unemployment beneficiaries. The purpose of the unemployment insurance system is to lessen the effects of on workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own. The payments are made directly to laid-off workers, insuring that at least a significant portion of life necessities, most notably food, shelter and clothing are met on a week-to-week basis, while the worker seeks employment. The funds allegedly stolen were federal funds related to the Extended Unemployment Compensation Account (EUCA) and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.
