Leicester woman pleads guilty in pandemic unemployment fraud scheme

WORCESTER — A Leicester woman pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to her involvement in a pandemic unemployment fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Destinee Snay, 20, faced one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Snay created phony email accounts on Gmail, AOL and Yahoo that she used to file the fraudulent claims.

In total, Snay is said to have filed approximately 20 false and fraudulent unemployment claims for Massachusetts and other states.

Snay was indicted in July 2021 along with co-defendant William Cordor, 26, of Leicester.

Both have now pleaded to conspiring to file false and fraudulent claims for unemployment assistance in multiple states, using stolen identities from about June 2020 to about October 2020.

Snay and Cordor were accused of obtaining the identities from Facebook and from former fellow inmates at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction in West Boylston.

Snay and Cordor were then said to have transferred the funds into prepaid debit card accounts, according to authorities. They used the money for trips and shopping.

On Nov. 16, 2021, Cordor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16.

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled Snay's sentencing for Oct. 12.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Leicester woman pleads guilty in pandemic unemployment fraud scheme