(WTTW News)
A Chicago husband and wife are among a half-dozen postal employees who allegedly applied fraudulently for various government loans and aid during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Louis Lay Jr., 32, and his 34-year-old wife Erica Beck were each held on $20,000 D-bonds during a hearing Friday, a day after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced an indictment that included dozens of charges filed against six current or former postal workers.
“Thieves who intentionally took advantage of the situation to steal money from the government also slowed the processing of legitimate claims,” Raoul said in a statement. “I am committed to continued collaborations through the Task Force on Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud to ensure individuals are held accountable for their actions at a time when many Americans desperately needed assistance.”
Lay and Beck must post $2,000 to be released from custody.
Also charged are: 30-year-old Davonte Kendall, 27-year-old Bria Taylor, 29-year-old Imani Butler and 28-year-old Raven Daniel. Raoul filed more than 65 felony counts, including theft by deception, state benefits fraud, loan fraud, wire fraud and forgery.
All six defendants are accused of fraudulently seeking loans through the Small Business Administration for businesses that didn’t exist. Four of the defendants are also charged with applying for fraudulent state unemployment insurance benefits while they were still employed by the U.S. Postal…
