WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – A federal jury has found Maria Morales, 58, of Wesley Chapel, guilty of trafficking in unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft.
The verdict, announced today by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe, follows a trial that exposed Morales’s role in a scheme to obtain nearly $2 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits fraudulently.
Morales now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 19, 2025.
READ: Tampa Coach’s Killer Guilty: Kristopher Chandler Convicted Of First-Degree Murder
According to testimony and evidence presented during the trial, Morales received over 100 debit cards issued by the state of Nevada for unemployment insurance benefits distributed during the pandemic. These cards were created using the personal identifying information of unwitting individuals from across the United States.
Upon receiving the debit cards, which bore the names of the identity theft victims, Morales traveled to various ATMs throughout the Middle District of Florida. There, she withdrew thousands of dollars in unemployment insurance benefits to which she was never entitled. In less than one year, Morales illegally obtained almost $2 million and stole the identities of over 100 individuals.
The Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich is prosecuting the case.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
