California Man Sentenced to 12 Years for $59M COVID Unemployment Fraud Schemehttps://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2026/05/02/california-man-sentenced-to-12-years-for-59m-covid-unemployment-fraud-scheme-n2675413A California man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for allegedly committing wire fraud and laundering about $59 million.
Bruce Jin, age 61, a resident of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to 144 months in prison by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Jin previously pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025, and admitted that he and his coconspirators Brian R. Cleland, age 72, and Carlos A. Grijalva, age 60, both of Los Angeles, California, along with other unnamed coconspirators, conspired to obtain state unemployment compensation funds and other public funds through fraudulent means.
Jin, Cleland, Grijalva, and others entered into a series of agreements to make it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID-19 personal protective equipment. The funds that the defendants obtained and laundered through their companies were derived from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation benefits. The indictment alleges that Economic Impact Payments, or “stimulus payments,” were also obtained through fraudulent means.
Federal prosecutor and court.
Covid relief $$$$ was an engraved invitation to fraud, and CA's UEI program was also milked during Covid by fraudsters. Had these fraudsters not involved Federal $$ they might not have been caught and prosecuted, IMO.