29 plead guilty in COVID benefit scam

SC Attorney General’s Office

Photo: SC Attorney General's Office

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– The U.S. Attorneys Office in South Carolina says 29 people have pleaded guilty in connection to a $5 million COVID benefits scam.

Officials say the scam was lead by inmates in South Carolina Corrections Department facilities.

Investigators say the inmates collected the names, social security numbers, and birthdates of other inmates as well as family and friends in order to fraudulently apply for COVID unemployment benefits.

Each defendant is facing up to 20 years in federal prison.