An up and coming rapper who made a music video bragging about getting rich from scamming coronavirus unemployment benefits was arrested for fraudulently applying for more than $1.2 million in aid.
According to The Hill, the Justice Department announced the arrest of 31-year-old Fontrell Antonio Baines, whose rap name is “Nuke Bizzle,” in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to prosecutors, Baines, who currently lives in California, had allegedly applied for more than $1.2 million in benefits. Authorities found him in possession of 92 debit cards issued by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in the names of third-parties, including victims of identity left that were used in the scheme.
Baines and his accomplices allegedly accessed more than $704,000 of those benefits through cash withdrawals, which they used to party in Las Vegas, and spent on merchandise and services.
The wannabe rapper even released a music video on September 11, in which he bragged, “my swagger for EDD,” while holding up envelopes from the agency claiming he was getting rich by “go[ing] to the bank with a stack of these.”
Now he faces three felony offenses, including access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and interstate transportation of stolen property. Baines is facing a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison if he’s convicted of all charges.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qStqKRHm9dk
