Albany woman gets over three years in prison for benefits fraud

An Albany woman was sentenced to nearly 3 ½ years in prison for fraudulently obtaining $701,441 in COVID unemployment benefits.

Jamie Johnson, 38, admitted in February 2022 to filing false applications in other peoples’ names.

She then collected unemployment benefits, drove a Maserati SUV to Capital Region banks and withdrew cash using debit cards containing the benefits, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Johnson also must serve three years of post-release supervision and pay $701,441 in restitution.

Three of Johnson’s co-conspirators – Thomas Brace, Taliek Lanier and Errol Murray also have been sentenced in this case. Brace received time served and Lanier and Murray got one year in prison each.