Man accused of fraudulent unemployment claims

An Erie man is accused of fraudulent unemployment claims that were uncovered by the Colorado Unemployment Fraud Task Force, which was created in the wake of the pandemic.

Michael Ray Delavallade, 58, was arrested on suspicion of theft, cybercrime and making a false statement.

According to an arrest affidavit, Delavallade’s claims initially were flagged because he used a Social Security number belonging to an individual who had died in 2008.

When questioned in April 2021, Delavallade said the number was the Federal Employer Identification Number of his business and that he must have entered the number into the wrong field.

But further investigation into Delavallade’s unemployment claims also showed he was still employed by Amazon when he filed for unemployment.

In total, Delavallade is accused of obtaining $10,442 in fraudulent benefits.

“In his bi-weekly online UI payment requests, Delavallade misrepresented his employment status, income, and Social Security number, effectively concealing his true employment and earnings from (Colorado Department of Labor and Employment),” an investigator wrote in the affidavit.

Delavallade was released on a $2,500 personal recognizance bond and is set for a first appearance May 31. His case will be prosecuted by the Boulder County district attorney’s office.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser began the Colorado Unemployment Fraud Task Force in March 2021 to address pandemicrelated fraud against the state and to investigate and prosecute cases involving suspected identity theft and unemployment fraud.

During its first year of operation, the Colorado Unemployment Fraud Task Force referred 17 criminal cases for prosecution to

Colorado district attorneys involving more than $300,000 in fraudulently obtained benefits.

“Since it was launched a year ago, the Unemployment Fraud Task Force has worked collaboratively with state and federal agencies to investigate those suspected of defrauding the state’s unemployment insurance program,” Weiser said in a statement. “These are complex cases that take time to develop, and now several cases have been referred to various DAS for prosecution. There’s more to come, and we’ll continue to work diligently to hold those accountable who seek to cheat the state and engage in identity theft.”