Topline: Federal investigators say three metro Detroit women were linked through ATM footage, banking data and IP records to more than $450,000 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims.
Published: April 24, 2026 2:00 pm ET
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DETROIT, MI — Three metro Detroit women are accused in a federal fraud case alleging they helped siphon more than $450,000 in suspected fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits out of Michigan’s system between March 2020 and about October 2021.
In a criminal complaint filed April 17 and an arrest warrant unsealed April 22, investigators said the case began with what they described as a digital footprint tied to an internet address linked to a home in Eastpointe.
According to a federal complaint detailed by ClickOnDetroit, Lela Lewis, Letora Liggins and Mesa Allen were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud after investigators said the scheme resulted in the outlay of more than $450,000 in suspected fraudulent benefits.
Federal authorities said some unemployment claims were filed from an IP address subscribed to Liggins at her Eastpointe home, while other activity traced back to an address linked to Lewis. Investigators said they reviewed financial, employment, vehicle license and property records, along with unemployment claim data, surveillance footage and information from the FBI and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency fraud unit.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan paid Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims through Bank of America debit cards and electronic funds transfers. Investigators said those transfers moved through Bank of America data centers in Virginia and Colorado, making them interstate wire communications.
Investigators said Michigan’s MiDAS unemployment system logged dates, times and IP addresses each time a claim was accessed, which they used to piece together what they described as a coordinated operation.
Authorities said one $32,000 claim filed in May 2020 was traced to Liggins and her Eastpointe address. Another claim filed that same month from the same IP address allegedly paid more than $33,000 between June 2020 and August 2021. In both cases, investigators said Bank of America ATM surveillance footage showed Liggins withdrawing cash at ATMs in St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods and Eastpointe.
The complaint also said a phone number tied to that IP address was associated with a unemployment claim in Lewis’ name. Investigators said Lewis used a Clinton Township address on her unemployment claim and driver’s license, and they identified Lewis as Allen’s sister. Authorities said one claim in Lewis’ name paid out more than $17,000 between June and November 2020, while another paid out more than $20,000 between June 2020 and March 2021.
Federal investigators said Bank of America surveillance footage also showed Allen withdrawing cash connected to fraudulent claims. They said they compared the footage to Allen’s driver’s license photo and to a distinctive Ariel tattoo on her upper right arm.
During interviews, investigators said Liggins identified herself in ATM footage tied to withdrawals from accounts connected to fraudulent claims, confirmed she knew Lewis, and then stopped talking. Lewis confirmed Allen was her sister, said she had lived at a St. Clair Shores address for several years, acknowledged Liggins was a friend, and denied filing anything beyond a claim in her own name, according to investigators.
Allen denied filing fraudulent claims but admitted she was the person shown in the ATM footage, authorities said. Investigators said Allen told them someone else gave her debit cards and asked her to withdraw cash, and that she kept a small cut. According to the complaint, Allen kept about $20 to $30 from the cash she withdrew.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2026, in Detroit.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Feds: Detroit Trio Stole Over $450K in COVID Unemployment Benefits
Federal investigators say three metro Detroit women were linked through ATM footage, banking data and IP records to more than $450,000 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: April 24, 2026 2:00 pm ET
DETROIT, MI — Three metro Detroit women are accused in a federal fraud case alleging they helped siphon more than $450,000 in suspected fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits out of Michigan’s system between March 2020 and about October 2021.
In a criminal complaint filed April 17 and an arrest warrant unsealed April 22, investigators said the case began with what they described as a digital footprint tied to an internet address linked to a home in Eastpointe.
According to a federal complaint detailed by ClickOnDetroit, Lela Lewis, Letora Liggins and Mesa Allen were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud after investigators said the scheme resulted in the outlay of more than $450,000 in suspected fraudulent benefits.
Federal authorities said some unemployment claims were filed from an IP address subscribed to Liggins at her Eastpointe home, while other activity traced back to an address linked to Lewis. Investigators said they reviewed financial, employment, vehicle license and property records, along with unemployment claim data, surveillance footage and information from the FBI and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency fraud unit.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan paid Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims through Bank of America debit cards and electronic funds transfers. Investigators said those transfers moved through Bank of America data centers in Virginia and Colorado, making them interstate wire communications.
Investigators said Michigan’s MiDAS unemployment system logged dates, times and IP addresses each time a claim was accessed, which they used to piece together what they described as a coordinated operation.
Authorities said one $32,000 claim filed in May 2020 was traced to Liggins and her Eastpointe address. Another claim filed that same month from the same IP address allegedly paid more than $33,000 between June 2020 and August 2021. In both cases, investigators said Bank of America ATM surveillance footage showed Liggins withdrawing cash at ATMs in St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods and Eastpointe.
The complaint also said a phone number tied to that IP address was associated with a unemployment claim in Lewis’ name. Investigators said Lewis used a Clinton Township address on her unemployment claim and driver’s license, and they identified Lewis as Allen’s sister. Authorities said one claim in Lewis’ name paid out more than $17,000 between June and November 2020, while another paid out more than $20,000 between June 2020 and March 2021.
Federal investigators said Bank of America surveillance footage also showed Allen withdrawing cash connected to fraudulent claims. They said they compared the footage to Allen’s driver’s license photo and to a distinctive Ariel tattoo on her upper right arm.
During interviews, investigators said Liggins identified herself in ATM footage tied to withdrawals from accounts connected to fraudulent claims, confirmed she knew Lewis, and then stopped talking. Lewis confirmed Allen was her sister, said she had lived at a St. Clair Shores address for several years, acknowledged Liggins was a friend, and denied filing anything beyond a claim in her own name, according to investigators.
Allen denied filing fraudulent claims but admitted she was the person shown in the ATM footage, authorities said. Investigators said Allen told them someone else gave her debit cards and asked her to withdraw cash, and that she kept a small cut. According to the complaint, Allen kept about $20 to $30 from the cash she withdrew.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2026, in Detroit.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Feds: Detroit Trio Stole Over $450K in COVID Unemployment Benefits
Federal investigators say three metro Detroit women were linked through ATM footage, banking data and IP records to more than $450,000 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: April 24, 2026 2:00 pm ET
DETROIT, MI — Three metro Detroit women are accused in a federal fraud case alleging they helped siphon more than $450,000 in suspected fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits out of Michigan’s system between March 2020 and about October 2021.
In a criminal complaint filed April 17 and an arrest warrant unsealed April 22, investigators said the case began with what they described as a digital footprint tied to an internet address linked to a home in Eastpointe.
According to a federal complaint detailed by ClickOnDetroit, Lela Lewis, Letora Liggins and Mesa Allen were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud after investigators said the scheme resulted in the outlay of more than $450,000 in suspected fraudulent benefits.
Federal authorities said some unemployment claims were filed from an IP address subscribed to Liggins at her Eastpointe home, while other activity traced back to an address linked to Lewis. Investigators said they reviewed financial, employment, vehicle license and property records, along with unemployment claim data, surveillance footage and information from the FBI and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency fraud unit.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan paid Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims through Bank of America debit cards and electronic funds transfers. Investigators said those transfers moved through Bank of America data centers in Virginia and Colorado, making them interstate wire communications.
Investigators said Michigan’s MiDAS unemployment system logged dates, times and IP addresses each time a claim was accessed, which they used to piece together what they described as a coordinated operation.
Authorities said one $32,000 claim filed in May 2020 was traced to Liggins and her Eastpointe address. Another claim filed that same month from the same IP address allegedly paid more than $33,000 between June 2020 and August 2021. In both cases, investigators said Bank of America ATM surveillance footage showed Liggins withdrawing cash at ATMs in St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods and Eastpointe.
The complaint also said a phone number tied to that IP address was associated with a unemployment claim in Lewis’ name. Investigators said Lewis used a Clinton Township address on her unemployment claim and driver’s license, and they identified Lewis as Allen’s sister. Authorities said one claim in Lewis’ name paid out more than $17,000 between June and November 2020, while another paid out more than $20,000 between June 2020 and March 2021.
Federal investigators said Bank of America surveillance footage also showed Allen withdrawing cash connected to fraudulent claims. They said they compared the footage to Allen’s driver’s license photo and to a distinctive Ariel tattoo on her upper right arm.
During interviews, investigators said Liggins identified herself in ATM footage tied to withdrawals from accounts connected to fraudulent claims, confirmed she knew Lewis, and then stopped talking. Lewis confirmed Allen was her sister, said she had lived at a St. Clair Shores address for several years, acknowledged Liggins was a friend, and denied filing anything beyond a claim in her own name, according to investigators.
Allen denied filing fraudulent claims but admitted she was the person shown in the ATM footage, authorities said. Investigators said Allen told them someone else gave her debit cards and asked her to withdraw cash, and that she kept a small cut. According to the complaint, Allen kept about $20 to $30 from the cash she withdrew.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2026, in Detroit.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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