LOS ANGELES, CA – Five Los Angeles County residents, including a California Highway Patrol dispatcher and her husband, have been charged in a $3.3 million COVID-19 unemployment fraud scheme involving the use of stolen identities and false claims, federal prosecutors announced.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the group is accused of filing fraudulent unemployment benefit applications between April 2020 and July 2022, during the height of the pandemic’s economic impact. The defendants allegedly used stolen personal information—including names and Social Security numbers—to submit applications through pandemic relief programs intended for workers who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
The accused have been identified as Janet Clarise Gloria Theus, 44, and Diane Clarise Theus, 78, both of Lancaster; Dailen Spears, 24, of Carson; and Erica Abson Robins, 57, and Ronald Lee Robins, 62, of Compton. Erica Robins was employed as a dispatcher with the California Highway Patrol at the time of the alleged scheme.
According to the indictment, Erica Robins is accused of accessing a law enforcement database to gather personal information used in the fraud. Her husband, Ronald Robins, allegedly collected Social Security numbers from fellow inmates while incarcerated and supplied them to others involved in the operation.
The group allegedly used the fraudulent claims to open benefit accounts, from which Janet Theus, Diane Theus, and Erica Robins are said to have made repeated ATM cash withdrawals. Prosecutors believe the proceeds were shared among the conspirators.
All five defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, while Janet and Diane Theus and Erica Robins face additional counts of bank fraud. The bank fraud-related offenses each carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison if convicted.
In addition, Janet and Diane Theus, and Erica and Ronald Robins, also face charges related to the unlawful use of unauthorized access devices, which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Janet and Diane Theus surrendered voluntarily and are scheduled for arraignment. Ronald and Erica Robins were taken into custody, and Spears later surrendered to authorities. All three have pleaded not guilty.
Erica Robins and Spears were released on $10,000 bond. Ronald Robins remains in custody pending a detention hearing. A trial date is tentatively set for April 29.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing and have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges.
