OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERALPress Releases
DOL OIG Great Lakes Region Announces Charges and Arrests in Multiple Unemployment Insurance Fraud Schemes Tied to Gang Activity
October 16, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General
WASHINGTON — Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL OIG) announced significant enforcement actions in its ongoing efforts to combat fraud and protect the American people. The DOL OIG Great Lakes Region secured multiple arrests and charges against individuals allegedly involved in gang activity and schemes to defraud the Unemployment Insurance program. “I want to commend our Great Lakes Region team and our esteemed partners at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF – Detroit Office), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI – Chicago Office), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS – Chicago Office), U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for their outstanding work in advancing our mission to combat fraud and protect American workers. Their commitment to putting American workers first drives our results and helps ensure justice for the American people,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “My office is grateful for the dedication and support of our partner agencies as we work together to hold those responsible for fraud accountable.”
DETROIT — On October 6, 2026, Derrick Thompson, a multi-convicted felon with previous charges of fraud, assault and felony firearms violations, was arrested by DOL-OIG and ATF agents for his role in an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme. Thompson was previously charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He is alleged to have filed dozens of UI claims in his own name and in the names of others not associated with him, defrauding various state workforce agencies (SWA) of approximately $400,000 in UI benefits.
On October 7, 2026, Charles Marshall was arrested by DOL-OIG and ATF agents for his role in a UI fraud scheme, Marshall was previously charged with one count of bank fraud. Marshall allegedly filed dozens of fraudulent UI claims in his own name and the names of others using stolen personally identifiable information. It is alleged that Marshall is associated with approximately $548,594 in suspected UI fraud involving multiple states. Marshall is a known gang associate who has been linked to gang activity, violence, felony firearms violations, and related criminal conduct in the Detroit metro area.
Both investigations are being worked jointly with the ATF and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
CHICAGO — On October 7, 2026, Andrea Wellington, a former employee of an Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) sub-contractor, and her alleged co-conspirator, Randall Easley, a known Chicago gang associate, were charged by a federal grand jury indictment with multiple counts of wire fraud related to an alleged UI fraud scheme. The indictment alleges Wellington used her access to the IDES Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) system to modify approximately 471 claims, including claims associated with herself and Easley. These modifications caused IDES to disburse approximately $4.6 million in PUA payments to the individuals involved in the scheme for which they were not entitled. Wellington and Easley allegedly recruited individuals to participate in this UI fraud scheme. Both defendants were arrested without incident on October 8, 2026, during separate arrest operations conducted by DOL OIG, FBI, and USPIS agents.
This investigation is being worked jointly with the FBI and USPIS and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
“These arrests send a clear message: if you steal from American workers through unemployment fraud, whether as a multi-convicted felon or as part of a gang activity scheme, we will find you, charge you, and hold you accountable. Our government programs are not an ATM for criminals,” said Inspector General D’Esposito.
For additional information on DOL OIG, please visit oig.dol.gov. If you suspect wrongdoing involving DOL programs or operations, contact the DOL-OIG Hotline at (800) 347-3756 or oig.dol.gov/hotlinecontact.htm.
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