Amsterdam, Las Vegas suspects accused of $250K COVID benefits fraud

By WNYT

An Amsterdam woman and man from Las Vegas are accused of defrauding the New York State Department of Labor out of $250,000 in COVID benefits.

Jodi Drygula, 52, of Amsterdam, has been indicted on mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud charges.

Drygula obtained pandemic-related unemployment benefits in the names of three other people through the New York State Department of Labor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. The alleged scheme happened from July 2020 through September 2021.

Also indicted in the case was Anthony Camou, 45, of Las Vegas.

Both defendants have been arraigned in U.S. District Court and ordered released with conditions.

The charges carry up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. There’s also a possibility of three years of supervised release.