Michigan – A 33-year-old resident of West Bloomfield has been sentenced in federal court for his involvement in a wide-ranging unemployment insurance fraud operation that spanned several states. Federal authorities said the case reflects ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for exploiting public benefit systems designed to support people in need.
According to court records, Arron Howard pleaded guilty to wire fraud after investigators determined he secured more than $626,000 in fraudulent unemployment payments tied to dozens of third-party claims. Officials said he retained a share of the illegally obtained funds for his own use while submitting false applications across Arizona, California, and Michigan as part of the scheme.
Howard received a prison sentence of 41 months from U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. In addition to incarceration, the court ordered him to repay $626,960.88 in restitution, reflecting the financial losses connected to the fraudulent activity. Federal prosecutors described the sentence as a significant step toward recovering stolen public funds and deterring similar conduct.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office handled the case in court, highlighting coordination among federal and state partners to uncover complex fraud schemes that cross jurisdictional lines.
Authorities emphasized that unemployment insurance programs remain essential safeguards for workers, and enforcement actions such as this aim to protect the integrity of those systems.