New Mexico man pleads guilty to pandemic-era unemployment fraud

(The Center Square) - An Albuquerque man pleaded guilty in federal court this week to mail and wire fraud charges related to the CARES Act, U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez announced.

From April 2020 to October 2020, Pholopater Faltas, 26, submitted fraudulent unemployment insurance applications to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions using at least eight different names.

"To that end, Faltas solicited personally identifying information from these individuals, falsely promising to access benefits on their behalf," the release said. "The fraudulent applications contained materially false statements to ensure approval and allowed Faltas to control the disbursed funds."

Due to this scheme, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions disbursed at least $66,867 in unemployment benefits that Faltas controlled via bank accounts and debit cards. He misled the purported applicants regarding their eligibility and kept most of the funds for himself.

Faltas acknowledged that his crimes were related to the CARES Act, a federal coronavirus pandemic relief program, in his plea agreement. He also acknowledged using interstate mailings and wire communications in his plea.

Faltas will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing. However, sentencing has not been scheduled yet.

Faltas faces up to 30 years in prison at sentencing, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

Read the plea agreement here .