Five are arrested in $1M unemployment fraud case

SUNNYVALE >> Five people have been arrested on suspicion of stealing personal identification from Santa Clara County residents and using it to file for $1 million in unemployment benefits, authorities said.

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety uncovered the alleged fraud ring while investigating a Nov. 16 residential burglary, the agency said in a news release Thursday. Personal identification, Social Security cards, credit cards and utility bills were among the items stolen.

A suspect in the burglary — identified as a 35-year-old San Jose resident — was arrested at a hotel in Sunnyvale. The agency said a search of his room turned up a “large amount” of stolen mail from homes in Sunnyvale and other cities across the county.

The investigation continued and led to the identification of four more suspects. The agency said the suspects stole mail and personal identification from county residents and used it to create fictitious profiles. The profiles then were allegedly used to apply for California Employment Development Department unemployment benefits.

Four of the five suspects were on active parole or postrelease community supervision, the agency said.

The agency said it recovered a stolen motorcycle, two handguns (one of which was stolen in a residential burglary), a shotgun, AR-15 rifle parts, ammunition, illegal drugs, stolen computers, stolen mail, personal identification and a device used to create fictitious credit cards.

At least 100 potential victims have been identified, but the agency said there could be thousands more.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Barron Renzi at 408-730-7712 or brenzi@sunnyvale.ca.gov.