An international fraud plan that got nearly $59 million in public benefits illegally has resulted in one person admitting guilt and two others being charged. Bruce Jin, a 60-year-old from California, confessed to conspiracy charges for wire theft and money laundering. He ran a complicated scheme that took advantage of unemployment insurance funds in several states. Florida was heavily affected by the scheme, which involved fake claims using stolen names and sending public benefits overseas.
The investigation shows that Jin, along with Brian Cleland, 71, and Carlos Grijalva, 59, set up fake companies that sold COVID-19 safety gear to hide their scams. The trio used these fabricated operations to steal millions of dollars from jobless compensation programs in Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other states, including Economic Impact Payments (stimulus funds). They used fake information and stole identities to get money meant for American workers who were having a hard time during the pandemic.
Court documents show that the defendants funneled stolen money through companies they owned and then sent over $35 million to a bank account in China. The stolen money was cleaned and made legal using different companies, including Jin’s own businesses, Ample International and Jin Commerce.
Jin’s guilty plea shows that he helped steal jobless funds, with more than $12 million linked to his companies. More than $45 million in fake claims were handled and sent from the U.S. to companies in China.
This case is part of ongoing efforts to combat fraud in government relief programs and protect taxpayer money from being stolen by criminals.
Jin has been in custody since he was arrested in August 2023. Cleland and Grijalva have been set free until their trial, but they must follow certain terms. Cleland and Grijalva have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and will go to trial in May 2025.
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