A federal grand jury in Wichita has indicted a Kansas woman for illegally collecting more than $100,000 by defrauding a federal program intended to help those who lost their livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Court documents reveal that Kylie Charles, 35, from Wichita, faces 17 counts of wire fraud and 17 counts of aggravated identity theft.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was designed to offer financial relief to Americans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program extended unemployment benefits to individuals who would not normally qualify, such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, those with limited work history, and people who lost their businesses due to the pandemic.
From May 2020 to August 2021, Charles allegedly stole the identities of people she knew and used their personal information, without their consent, to file fraudulent unemployment claims across multiple states under the CARES Act program.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is handling the prosecution.
Other Indictments
Chad M. Abildgaard, 33, of Wichita, was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Nelson Agustin Gonzalez-Diaz, 74, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting.
Manuel Jacquez Ibarra, 45, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting.
David Yitzhak Espinoza, 31, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting.
