A Florida man who orchestrated a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 unemployment fraud scheme has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison. Authorities say 23-year-old Zachary Kameron Ramyard from Orlando stole over $4 million in benefits meant for struggling Americans.
A federal judge sentenced Ramyard to 71 months behind bars and ordered him to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution. The fraud, which ran between 2020 and 2022, involved exploiting pandemic-era relief programs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Prosecutors revealed that Ramyard and his co-conspirators used stolen personal information to file at least 68 fraudulent unemployment claims with California’s Employment Development Department (EDD). The agency unknowingly issued debit cards loaded with stolen benefits.
Ramyard then withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars from ATMs in multiple states. Instead of using the money for essentials, he splurged on luxury items, including diamond-studded teeth jewelry known as “grills,” authorities said.
The fraudulent scheme exploited emergency unemployment benefits introduced under the CARES Act. In response to widespread abuse, the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established in 2021 to investigate and prosecute such financial crimes.
South Florida has been a major hub for fraud, prompting federal agencies to take decisive action. In 2022, the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office was chosen to lead one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams.
Authorities emphasized that pandemic relief programs were created to help those in genuine need. “Stealing from these funds is not only illegal but deeply unethical,” said officials in a press statement. The sentencing serves as a warning to others who may attempt similar fraud.
As part of his guilty plea, Ramyard admitted to wire fraud conspiracy in October 2024. With his sentencing finalized, he now faces years behind bars, a hefty restitution order, and the permanent consequences of his actions.
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