RIVERSIDE, California – Two San Bernardino County residents were arrested today on a nine-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they fraudulently obtained more than $2.1 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds by submitting more than 120 fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits using stolen identities, including those of California state prisoners.
Lisa Puente, 43, of Rialto, and Arthur Marquez, 53, of San Bernardino, were arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.
Both defendants are charged with six counts of mail fraud and one count of use of unauthorized access devices. Puente and Marquez also each are charged with one count of aggravated identity theft.
Puente and Marquez pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, and a December 30 trial date was scheduled. A federal magistrate judge ordered Puente released on $20,000 bond and ordered Marquez released on $10,000 bond.
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